Chapter 7: The Christmas Miracle

(At the airport)

His eyes were drawn to her the moment she stepped out of the secured passengers-only zone and it seemed that it was the same for her because within seconds, their eyes locked. He moved through the masses, his eyes intent on his Ace, barely noticing anything else around him. Fortunately, she too had moved hastily forward and so they finally met halfway perhaps not two minutes after spotting each other.

"Logan!" she simply said and flew into his arms, much to his pleasure.

Pressing her as close as possible, he just held her for as long as he could, deeply inhaling her scent and letting himself believe that she really was finally there, in his arms again. Only then did he loosen up their embrace enough so that he could cup her face and draw her into a long, hungry kiss that was met with such a passion and longing from Rory that he simply forgot where they were, his world ceasing to exist other than being with Rory.

It was only when a heavy arm fell around his shoulder that he somehow came back to his senses, hearing a well known Australian drawl in his ear. "Now, I'm all for a good old peep show but I guess you and our love here would prefer to actually continue this in a bedroom, don't you think?"

With those words, Logan finally remembered where they were… in the middle of Heathrow. With hundreds of people around them. Shit. Feeling his body heat up even more, he reluctantly removed his hands from where they somehow had found their way not only into Rory's coat but also under her sweater, giving her a lopsided smile. Her eyes, still dazed like his own seconds before, slowly cleared and he laughed quietly as she immediately blushed furiously.

God, how he had missed her.

Though it was almost painful, he tore his eyes away from her to turn towards his two best friends, standing on both sides of him, shielding them at least a bit from everyone's curious eyes.

"Finn, Colin, good to see you guys," he welcomed them with a grin. "How's it going?"

"Apart from being unnerved by Rory's pining for you and a little sick by this disgustingly sweet reunion scene just now, good, thanks," Colin answered, rolling his eyes. His slight smile betrayed him though. "Not to mention that Finn here can be lucky that the red-headed stewardess, pardon me, flight attendant, didn't throw him out, causing us all to crash to death."

"I don't know what you mean. She totally fell for me," Finn protested indignantly and held up a paper napkin. "See, she even gave me her number."

Rolling her eyes and her clothes straightened once again, Rory snapped the napkin out of his hands. "Rather said she gave you the number of her lawyer so you don't want to call this number," she told Finn cynically and crumpled it, throwing it away.

"But love!" the Australian protested.

Ignoring his attics, she turned back to Logan. "My coffee," she demanded, holding out her hand.

Grinning, Logan reached behind and produced a very large cup of black coffee, that luckily had survived their welcome embrace and that was eagerly snatched away from him. "Milady, at your service. This will have to do until we're back in the car though." Her eyes narrowed over the rim of the cup and he hastily held up his hands. "But there is more of the black nectar awaiting you of course, I assure you."

She held his eyes a moment longer before she shrugged and let it go, instead turning her attention back to her coffee. Mesmerized, he watched as she inhaled the strong aroma deeply before she took her first sip, her eyes fluttering close and a blissful expression coming over her face.

Smiling, he shook his head. His Ace and her coffee... but he would never tire watching her drinking coffee, she was just too damn sexy doing it.

His arm back around Logan, Finn sighed. "God, that's hot. How can she make something so simple look that hot?" he wondered and Logan noticed he wasn't the only one mesmerized as Colin too nodded, his eyes watching Rory intently.

He gave Finn a slap upside down. "Eyes off," he growled good-naturedly. But he was surprised to actually indeed feel a tiny flicker of… discomfort. This was Finn. And Colin. His best friends, who loved Rory like their sister.

But still...

He didn't like them goggling his Ace. Then again, he didn't like anyone goggling her; the longer they have been together, the more it annoyed him. Which was ridiculous. His Ace was an exceptional beauty; she would always get stared at, no matter what. And he didn't mind other men admiring her. But not overdoing it. From a distance, of course. And not to mention that they should stay far, far away from her.

It was something he must get used to. Before Rory, he had never been jealous in his life. Why should he? He was beyond rich, there had almost been nothing he couldn't have. And not to mention that he was good looking. He had great friends and a great sister. True, he would have wanted better parents. And he had never liked the fact that his path in life has been predetermined for him… that he had no choice… his future position in the family firm always looming over him. But that was the case with most of his friends so there never had been reason to resent someone about something.

Then his Ace had come along and for the first time he had had something to lose. Not that he had admitted that to himself the first time jealousy had hit him hard, back at Finn's Tarantino party where Rory had shown up with Robert. He hadn't been able to stomach seeing him touch his Ace, his blood boiling at the mere thought. Thank God he knew that Rory wasn't the type who sleeps around. To this day he wasn't sure what he would have done if he had had reason to believe that she was going to actually sleep with the jerk when she had left the party with him not soon after refusing to leave with Logan instead, their dates be damned. It had scared the shit out of him. But it also had awaken him to the fact that she too could actually date other guys with how things were between them and that if he didn't want that, he'd had to do something about it. First he had monopolized her time, making sure that she simply didn't have time to date anyone else, as he had been still way too scared of commitment to just do the only sensible thing and go steady with her. No, that had needed another kick in the ass so to speak.

Nonetheless, he had to admit that he was after all the jealous type. Thank God he knew that Rory would never betray him. While she was with him, she was with him and before she'd do anything, she'd talk with him, of that he was sure. It enabled him to be more relaxed with other guys which he was glad for. Not just because Rory didn't appreciate him being overly jealous - but because he himself didn't like to be filled with such unhealthy bad feelings.

He felt eyes on him and looked up to see Finn and Colin's slight frown directed at him while Rory seemed rather amused. Shrugging it off, he pointed towards the exit. "Why don't we get a move on before Ace here runs out of coffee, huh?" he asked and, slipping his arm around Rory, started to lead them away. Looking over his shoulder at Finn, he smiled wickedly. "Finn, I'm sure you don't mind taking care of Ace's luggage, do you?" he suggested, his eyes starting to glint. "It's the least you can do in return for the show, yes?"

"Uff," he groaned a second later as a sharp elbow was rammed into his side and looked down at Rory who looked ahead though, innocence in person.

Behind them, Finn started to push the trolley with the baggage to follow them, shaking his head with a disgusted look. "Why always me?" he pouted.


(Thursday, three days later)

"We closed the deal!" Logan exclaimed the moment Ace picked up.

"What?"

"We closed the deal!" Logan repeated, downright giddy.

"You closed the deal? The deal?" Rory asked, catching up and suddenly sounding as excited as he.

"Oh yeah, that deal," Logan nodded.

"Logan, that's fantastic!" she exclaimed. "I'm so proud of you, honey!"

He felt himself beaming at her words. It wasn't the first time she had told him that. And lately, other people had said this to him as well. But hearing it from her, it always meant more, warming his heart in a way he hadn't thought possible from such simple words.

"Listen, we're going to celebrate tonight," he told her. "Why don't you come as well? I want you with me tonight and this way, you could also finally meet my team. Believe me, after having their ears talked off about how great my girlfriend is, everyone's eager to meet you to assure themselves that you are human after all, just like them."

"You know I'd love to, but are you really sure?" Rory asked.

"Of course, Ace. Besides, after having to listen to me the past few months talking about this deal you more than deserve to be part of this party," Logan chuckled. "So get into your little dark blue sexy dress and tell the stooges that they're on their own tonight. Just tell the driver to bring you to The Cinnamon Club. He'll know where it is."

"The Cinnamon Club?" Rory repeated and let out a low whistle. "Not bad."

"Only the best for me, you know that," Logan smirked.

Rory snorted. "Yeah, yeah, I know. And what time do I need to be there to dazzle them?"

"Seven," Logan answered. "That okay with you?"

"Logan, you're talking to me, remember?" She had to roll her eyes with that tone, she just had to. "I know my gender is famous for needing hours to prepare themselves but let's be realistic… you need more time than me to get ready."

"Well, perfection takes time," Logan smirked. "Not everyone can be as naturally beautiful as you, my dearest Ace."

"Oh jeez, now you're just growing greasy," was her dry reply. "We better end this before you start to slime because then you can forget about having any kind of good time, at least with me."

He chuckled. "All right. See you later then. I promise to leave the slime in the trash."

"You do that," she replied. "Bye, Logan."

"Bye, Ace," he too said, and hang up, turning around with a wide grin.

He really couldn't wait to show off Rory. She was his better half and he thought it was time for the people around him to understand this. And perhaps he also wanted to see how she'd do on a business party. After all, if she said yes, she would have to attend a fair share of them. Not that he was worried. Rory was a natural at parties, blending in without problems, no matter if it were crazy young students or snobbish, rigid society people. Hell, she was a DAR girl, not that she had met much with them since going back to Yale. But she was still a member and he knew that occasionally, she would even attend meetings, much to her mother's and surprisingly also Emily's chagrin. Besides the fact that she could hold her own in pretty much every conversation, she was breathtakingly beautiful and had a kind heart that shone through her sparkling eyes. And he was the lucky guy who got to hold her hand.

Hopefully for the rest of their lives.


(That night)

"You're awfully quiet," Logan observed, glancing at Rory, sitting beside him. "Is everything all right?"

Actually, she had been astoundingly quiet ever since she joined him and his team for the party in The Cinnamon Club. Not that she had been rude, not at all. She had been charming, had engaged herself into a conversation when spoken to and he could tell that his people had definitely liked her. But if you had really known her then you knew that she had been a bit off during the entire party.

"Hmm? Oh yeah, everything's fine," she nodded and squeezed his hand reassuringly.

Uh.. Huh.

Fine.

Shaking his head, he sighed and turned her face towards him. "Rory."

"Really, it's nothing," she still protested though. He simply raised an eyebrow, waiting. Finally, she sighed, making a grimace. "It's stupid."

"I don't think so," he answered quietly. "Come on, Rory. Talk to me."

Her eyes found his and again she sighed. "It's just... you never mentioned that Bobby is actually a woman, you know? You always said Bobby, never using a pronoun either and I naturally assumed that Bobby is a man, like all the others. You do know that most people named Bobby are males, don't you?"

Confused, he could only stare at her. What?

In the meantime, her eyes narrowed. "Why didn't you tell me that Bobby is a she? Did you think I'd have a problem with that? Or..."

"Rory!" he interrupted her, giving her hand a hard squeeze as well. She quieted and glowered at him. He shook his head. "First of all, there's no reason why I didn't mention it. It never occurred to me, honestly. Second, if I had thought about it I would have had no problem at all telling you that Bobby is a woman. Because she's simply a co-worker, a good one at that. And third, you can't really be jealous of Bobby!" he exclaimed, still flabbergasted.

That, he really hadn't expected.

"I'm not jealous," she protested, holding up her head a bit higher. "I just think you could have mentioned the tiny little fact that your perfect assistant being a crucial part of your team is a woman. And not just a simple woman, oh no, a hot, intelligent, leggy blond twenty-something with perfect boobs that clearly has set her eyes on my boyfriend."

His eyes widening even more, he could just shake his head again. "Ace, Jesus, don't be ridiculous." He knew immediately that that had been the wrong thing to say, with the fire that blazed out of his Ace's eyes, now solely directed at him. Very, very wrong.

"Oh sorry that me, stupid college girl thinks it important to know some vital information about the people surrounding my boyfriend while he's miles away from home," Rory said icily, drawing her hand out of his and turning to sit a bit away from him. "I'll see to it that I won't bother you with my immature worries again in the future."

"Come on, Ace, that's not at all..." He was interrupted by the car stopping. Rory, wasting no time, had been out the second the car stood still and he was already talking to an empty seat.

Muttering under his breath, he once again shook his head as he gave the driver his tip before he hurried after his girlfriend who had already vanished inside the building. He was also just a second too late to reach her in time before the elevator doors closed. Cursing, he punched the button for the elevator and paced impatiently in front of the doors.

What the hell had just happened? The day had been great so far, up until now, before Rory started to throw a fit out of the blue. What on earth had gotten into her? She couldn't be honestly threatened by Bobby, could she? Sure, he supposed Bobby was sexy, if you were interested. But that was the point. He wasn't. He was more than happy with his Ace; the ring, currently locked away in his safe, proof enough of that. And really, compared to Rory, Bobby could just pack her things. She didn't have that incredible beauty coming from deep inside that had him so captured since the first time he had laid eyes on his Ace. Well, the first time he actually remembered.

Finally, the elevator returned to the lobby. By the time he reached his penthouse apartment he wasn't surprised anymore to find her nowhere in sight. After a quick check around he detected that she had to be behind the closed bathroom door and indeed, he found the door even locked when he tried it.

Frustrated, he knocked at the door. "Rory! Come on, let's talk about this!" he called through the door.

No answer.

"Damn it, Ace, be reasonable!" he yelled, the frustration getting the better of him.

Of course it was the wrong thing to say.

And his only answer was the shower turning on.

Ugh!


(Later that night)

When she finally came out, Logan faced her, leaning against the bedroom door, his arms crossed, having calmed down a bit. "Can we talk now?" he asked, hoping not to sound too unnerved.

She gave him a look, but she didn't give him the cold shoulder as well, at least. Looked like she was finally ready to listen.

All right. "You have no reason to be jealous of Bobby. Bobby means nothing to me other than that she's a competent co-worker who really helps me with my work load so I have a little more free time," he told her. "Time I spend with you."

Putting her dress back into the closet, Rory closed the door a little more forcefully than necessary and turned to face him. "I told you, I'm not jealous."

"Right," he snorted. "That's why you blew up just now, because you're not jealous."

"I'm not!" Rory insisted, her eyes firing up once again.

Logan ignored her. "I don't get it. We've talked about this. I thought you trusted me. You said you trusted me. So why come now and suddenly feel threatened by someone who's not even playing in your league?"

"Damn it, Logan, don't you listen? I told you, I'm not jealous!" Rory hissed and walked over in front of him, her balled fists on her hips. "I do trust you. I know you have nothing going on with little Ms. Perfect with her perfect long killer legs."

"Then what is the problem?" Logan exclaimed, exasperated.

Women! Someone should be able to understand them one day!

"She is! Just because you're not interested doesn't mean she wouldn't mind hooking up with the young, rich and hot new boss!" Rory cried out, pointing outwards. "First she treats me like I'm nothing else but a joke, always putting me down whenever she could, then she constantly calls us sweet and if that's not enough she's all over you the entire evening!"

Incredulous, Logan threw up his arms. "What the hell are you talking about? I was with you the entire time and she never said anything else to you but nice things. Nor can I remember having her all over me, something I'm pretty sure I'd notice. And what's wrong with sweet?" he asked lastly, truly puzzled by that.

"Are you kidding me?" Rory demanded to know, disbelieving. "'Oh, it must be so great to have so much time to read just for fun'," she quoted sarcastically. "'Ah, the good old college days, what fun did I have then' or a classic had also been: 'What a charming little task' about me being the editor-in-chief of the Yale Daily News. The nerve of her! Little task. Ha! For her information, a position like that doesn't just entail hard work, it's also very important. It's Yale for heaven's sake!"

He didn't dare to point out that he couldn't hear anything wrong with those quotes. Then again, he had to admit that the tone Rory said them mimicking Bobby was a tad deriding. He frowned.

"But I could live with that, even with all her repeated 'sweets..."

Okay, that was it. "What is wrong with sweet?!"

Her eyes narrowed, looking at him skeptically . "Excuse me? What is not wrong with sweet? We aren't sweet! Puppies and kittens are sweet. Twelve-years-old kids sharing their first kiss are sweet. An eighty-year-old couple dancing with each other is sweet. But a steady couple who is in a very serious relationship is not sweet! Not that I'm surprised. After all, I'm nothing else but a cheap girl, just slightly above a school girl. I bet she thinks I was a cheerleader. So of course you can't be serious with me."

"Rory..."

"But okay, I can live with that also. I mean, I know you don't think of me like that. We know the truth. But that she had the audacity marking you… that was just too much," she continued though, her eyes shooting daggers. "I swear to you, if we hadn't left, I'd have tripped the waiter so the next tray of champagne could go all over her," she promised darkly.

Logan didn't even know where to begin, so he just addressed the first thing coming to mind. "Marking me?" he repeated, flabbergasted.

"Oh please, don't tell me you didn't notice how she found an excuse to touch you all the time, a hand briefly on your arm or your back, sounding all intimate. 'Logan, don't forget to take the Olsen statistic with you tomorrow' or 'And before I forget, Thompson would like to talk to both of us before the holiday', not to mention that she had the nerve to order for you your coffee!"

"And that's really a terrible affront," he nodded, finally deciding to give up arguing and just go with sarcasm. Sometimes, that deflated her the most.

She just nodded though vigorously. "Exactly. Just so I know that she knows such an important thing about you and can order it with obvious ease. I could have thrown her caffeine-free cappuccino into her stupid smiling face. As if I don't know what you like to drink or not. By the way, she got it wrong," she told him, crossing her arms. "You only take coffee with two creams and one sugar during the day, mostly in the morning and early afternoon. In the late afternoon or early evening you prefer a latte macchiato or a cappuccino. And after dinner it's either an espresso with two sugars or with a drop of whiskey in it."

He couldn't help it. He just had to smile. But God, she was so damn cute with her jealousy. And hearing her listing all the things she knew about him was a pretty good turn on. So he cautiously stepped forward and slowly encircled her waist, kissing her forehead. "Then again, it definitely wouldn't be good if she knew my coffee habits so well, right?"

"Only thing that saved her," she grumbled but looked up at him through her eyelashes, the fire finally dying in her eyes. "I'm not surprised you didn't catch on. You're just a guy after all. She was still too subtle for dumbheads like you I guess."

"Or perhaps you're just a tad bit overreacting here?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. She stiffened in his arms but he tightened his hold on her. "I mean, I'm not exactly a novice with girls. Trust me, I know when a girl is coming on to me. Bobby never did. Or I would have dealt with it, immediately. As it is, I made it very clear right from the first day that I'm off the market and very happy with my girlfriend. You."

She looked up at him fully now, her arms slowly uncrossing for her hands to come to rest on the arms holding her. "You don't have to remind me of your history with girls. I remember perfectly well, thank you very much," she said, her nose wrinkling. Then she grew serious though. "But this is another kind of woman we're talking about. Trust me. Bobby wants you. And the first opportunity she sees opening, she'll be more forward with her advances. Perhaps it will be after we had a bad fight, you all defensive and angry or sad or whatever and she'll be all understanding and before you know it, she'll kiss you."

"Even if you're right, it still takes two to tango and I already told you that I'm not going to make that mistake ever again," Logan reminded her, shaking his head. "But I really think you're wrong about Bobby, Ace. She never showed even the slightest interest in me. Trust me."

She smiled. "I'm really flattered, Logan. That our relationship makes you so blind against so obvious flirting." Her arms slid up his arms and came to be entwined behind his neck. "I really appreciate that. Just be careful with her though, okay? And it wouldn't hurt if you emphasize a few times more just how very much together you are with me. That I'm neither the old college girlfriend you intend to get rid off anytime soon nor a dumb gold digger living on your expenses."

His eyebrow rose higher. "Well, that should be no problem. I always love boasting about you. But where did the gold digger come from?"

She shook her head. "Just something she said while we met in the girls' restroom. Because of course she had to follow me there."

He frowned. "What did she say?" he wanted to know.

"Oh, nothing, really," she sighed. "She just made a comment about how easy I have it with living in a penthouse you're paying for."

His frown deepened. Now that was definitely out of line. And how did Bobby know that anyway? She had access to the finances of the firm, at least this branch, but he handled his private finances on his own. The only way to get that information was that she was either told by someone, though he couldn't imagine who that could be, or she had snooped around. Perhaps his Ace was on something after all.

"Like said, it's no big deal," Rory said, her hold on him tightening. "But other than that it was a nice evening, Logan. The guys are really nice. And Mark seems to have a wicked sense of humor. No wonder the Olsens finally agreed to the sell. Who could say no to such power guys?"

"Now you're mocking me," he pouted, couldn't help the smile though. He was glad that she had at least liked the guys.

"I would never!" she protested, starting to smile as well.

He leaned down and gave her a light kiss on the lips. "You so would," he retorted. "Hey Ace, why don't you repeat that part about my coffee habits again?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Why? Did it turn you on?" she asked knowingly. "Perhaps I should rather list what I know about the things that turn you on?" she suggested, moving closer to him, rubbing at his more and more hardening length.

"Hmm," he nodded, trailing small kisses along her collar bone to that soft, sensitive spot on her neck that made her always gasp when he touched it with his mouth.

"There would be intimate knowledge for one," she started. "Me reading. Me studying. Me eating. Me drinking coffee." There was the gasp he had aimed for. "And you like it when I'm annoyed. Or when you can rile me up. I get angry with you just like now and you get a hard on." To make her point, she pushed against his hard on, causing him to groan. But her voice had dropped as well as she continued. "Let's not forget the real good parts: Me outsmarting you. Me being outsmarted by you. Me dressed in a hot little dress like tonight. Me dressed in a sexy negligee like last night. Me naked."

"God, yes," he agreed whole heartedly and moved his hands to impatiently open the bathrobe she had on and moaned contentedly when he found she was wearing nothing beneath the soft cotton but her naked glory.

She laughed throatily and unlocked her hands around his necks so he could slid the robe off her, starting to busy herself undressing him. "And then there are the real meaningful things. Me telling you how proud I am of you or how much I trust you…your body, heart and soul with my body, heart, and soul," she all but whispered, her eyes shining softly at him as he paused his exploration of her neck to gaze at her intently, words completely gone from his mind. "But my absolute favorite is how it affects you when I tell you how much I love you," she continued, even more softly, caressing his cheek. "I love you, Logan."

Finally, a word made it back into his consciousness. "Rory..." he murmured and returned to her mouth to claim her in a long, deeply passionate and drowning kiss, while he scooped her up and carried her over to the bed.

She laughed quietly. "See," she whispered into his ear before nibbling at his earlobe teasingly.

Any comprehensible words may have fled his mind but then, he always had been better at showing her his love rather than communicating it to her.


(Christmas Eve, another three days later)

"No, no, no, the star needs to be at the top!" Rory insisted, her tone suggesting that no one should contradict her, a clear warning for even the dumbest fellow.

Then again, when had Finn ever listened to reason? "No, the angel is supposed to be at the top!"

"You're both wrong! It's this one here, whatever this is!" Colin chimed in.

In the kitchen, Logan just rolled his eyes. This has been going on since shortly after lunch when they had begun to set up the tree. He thanked his lucky stars for being the only one among the four who could decently cook, therefore, he was designated as the 'chef' to prepare their festive meal after Rory had insisted celebrating Christmas Eve at home and not go out to a fancy restaurant like the guys had wanted to.

Like they were used to.

Truthfully, Logan liked the idea. For the first time in his life he felt like he would have a real Christmas and not just a meaningless and stiff celebration that was forced to everyone by the calendar. All thanks to his Ace of course. When she had found out about the original plans she had been aghast. Then she had taken matters in her own hands. The very next day they had gone out to buy a Christmas tree, Christmas decorations for said tree, Christmas decorations for the apartment, a ridiculous amount of Christmas cookies (no one had enough confidence to bake the Christmas cookies but Finn and Finn was banned from the kitchen; he was only allowed to prepare the eggnog and mix the punch), nuts and fruits, not to mention candles, lights for the windows and the terrace, another tree for the terrace, more decorations and lights for the outside tree. And then, she had sent them all on individual gift shopping trips with the order to bring back at least five(!) presents for each of them, the rule was that the total cost of each individual's purchases should not exceed a hundred (!!!) bucks. He didn't know about Finn and Colin, but he had spent far more than a hundred bucks. Being reasonable he had stayed under a thousand dollars though. Of course that didn't include the gifts he had already bought before that. His Ace would just have to live with that.

All in all, this Christmas would have sent him to the poor house if he was a guy of average means but he was lucky enough to be more than rich.

And now they were setting up everything for the big night. The terrace had been done astonishingly quick, perhaps because they had left Finn and Colin free reign there while Rory had taken charge herself with the task of decorating the apartment. That too had gone over quickly and now the apartment looked like an advertisement straight out from Christmas Wonderland.

They had decided that all of them would decorate the indoor tree. That was three hours ago. The last time Logan had checked, in the last twenty minutes, the only thing accomplished was that they had agreed where to place the tree in the apartment. The tree itself was still undecorated so far. Rory once again had lectured them that they should put the top on first. Too bad they couldn't agree on which ornament to crown the tree with. But by the discussion going on among the three about which piece of ornament is suitable, they would still be at it come Easter. If they hurried. The tree was almost ten feet high and they had bought several dozens tree ornaments.

"Ugh, I'm ending this discussion now!" Rory's voice drifted into the kitchen, along with a vehement stump. "Without me we wouldn't have a tree at all. Not to mention a real Christmas. So it's my star that's going to be on top and that's it. Discussion over."

"Fine, I admit that that's an argument. But only if I get to decide the rest of the decoration scheme," Finn conceded.

"No way! Why should you have the say so? Everyone knows I'm much better at colors than you!" Colin immediately protested.

"Excuse me, but who's a boring lawyer here and who's working in the art business, huh?" Finn laughed. "We're not going to have a precisely measured out decorated tree!"

"Oh, but a wild one without a theme at all is better then?" Colin gave back with a sneer.

"Enough! This is supposed to be fun for heaven's sake!" Rory interrupted them and Logan listened up. Looked like she definitely was fed up with them now. "Colin, you get the third facing the chimney, Finn, you take the window side and I'm taking the couch side. Each decorates to his heart's desire. I don't want to hear another word of discussion about this. Just remember that the outsides are reserved for the candles, so be mindful of that when you hang up something."

"Hey, who declared you the boss?" Colin grumbled.

"Yeah, can't remember to have ever agreed on that," Finn agreed.

Shaking his head, Logan called out. "Me! I declare her boss. This is my home, I've paid for the tree and all the decorations and Ace's my girlfriend therefore the mistress of this household which makes you her minions. Got it? Now decorate that stupid tree. We're going to eat at seven o'clock and that tree better be finished by then."

"That's so not fair!" Colin protested but Logan heard rustling and Logan hoped it meant that he was starting to decorate.

"So right you are! Just because she's sleeping with him doesn't give her the right to simply take over," Finn grumbled as well, but more paper rustled at least. "If it comes down to it, the two of us probably slept with him more over the years than Reporter Girl here."

"Finn!" Logan hissed, putting the knife down and turning, ready to go out.

Rory coming through the door though intercepted those plans… at least for the moment. She wore an amused smile and raised an eyebrow at him. "Wanna tell me something, honey?"

"Just ignore them," he muttered and turned back to the various pots on the stove.

She came over to him and slipped her arms around him to lean at his back. "A six foot high Australian and a tight-assed lawyer are kind of hard to ignore, especially when they can't seem to stop yapping around. But look at the positive side… no children could be worse than them so we'll have excellent training once that time comes. It will be peanuts for us."

His heart stopped beating for a moment before it rushed forward with excitement. Children! Okay, they were way too young for children yet and he probably should panic. But if he wanted to be honest he couldn't wait until a couple of kids was running around them, driving them nuts, and bursting up with excitement over Christmas. Swallowing, he turned around to kiss Rory.

"You're forgetting something, Ace," he pointed out with a smile once he let her go again to turn back around. The soup needed some steering. "When that time comes I bet we'll still have Finn and Colin around. And especially Finn has a very bad influence on children. I've seen it when we were at his cousin's for Christmas once, a few years back. They had three children and Finn managed to turn them into wild animals within hours."

"Ugh..." she groaned and let her head fall against his back.

"Hey, Rory, if you don't come back here we'll have no qualms whatsoever taking over your part of the tree as well," Colin called out.

"Yeah, and don't think we'll let that ridiculous star up there then!" Finn too called out.

"I'm coming! Just a second. Jeez!" Rory told them, grinding her teeth then turned back to Logan, a suffering pout on her face.

"I know, I know," Logan nodded, knowingly. "My friends."

"Exactly," she replied darkly and with a last suffering glance at him, turned with a heavy sigh and went back into the living room to join the stooges.

"Hey! Give me that! I want that!" Finn's piercing, whining voice carried over.

"No! I had it first! Besides, I need it! It matches perfectly with the snowman and the bird here," Colin loudly protested.

Shaking his head, Logan turned back to the pots. Thank God he could cook and was assigned in the kitchen. At least this way he wasn't out in that insanity but only had to listen to it. Poor Ace. Of course she had brought that onto herself on her own.

This was probably going to be a very long day and night.

Of course, Logan loved it. Every second of it and he wouldn't want it any other way.

Actually, he'd be the happiest man ever if this Christmas was only going to be the first of many, many more.


(Later that night)

Stirring slightly from a deep, contented sleep, he immediately sensed that he was alone in bed. Really waking up with that realization, he opened his eyes and waited for a moment to adjust to the darkness in the room before he looked around.

No Ace.

The door to the bathroom was open and it was dark, so that wasn't where she was either. Getting up, he went to the door.

Ah, there she was, curled up on the couch in front of the Christmas tree. She had even changed the burned down candles from earlier with new ones and had lit them. Curious as to why she had done that or why she was even up at all, he quietly walked over to her. His curiosity was answered even before he reached her and she didn't even notice him coming from behind.

"Jeez, Mom, could you take any longer lighting the candles? Mine are almost burned down in the meantime," she joked.

Slowing down, he leaned against the wall leading from the corridor into the living room. Perhaps he shouldn't eavesdrop, but he never had claimed to be perfect - or a saint for that matter.

"Yeah well, is it my fault that I'm five hours ahead and already had a perfect Christmas Eve?" asked Rory with heavy mock in her voice. Then she listened for a moment. "Oh yeah, Mom, it was beautiful. Okay, Finn and Colin were a bit nerve wrecking, at least with decorating the tree, but as soon as we finished, Logan served us dinner which was really good," she told her mother.

"Hmm? Of course it was. Logan is a good cook, you know that." A slight pause. "Yes, he can cook more than lobster. Well, if you absolutely need to know we had mushroom soup for starters, then a simply delicious duck and for dessert we've bought a Christmas roll pie and a chocolate cake in case we didn't like the pie. We needn't have worried though."

"Perhaps," she then laughed. "Have you been a good girl? I mean an original English Christmas Pie is not just for everyone?" Another slight pause. "Ugh, stop! I don't need to hear more. You definitely don't deserve the pie. But because I know you won't stop pestering me and never forgive me if I don't bring you a pie you'll get it, anyway."

Smiling, Logan shook his head. He'd have to see to it that a pie would be sent by FedEx or UPS. He doubted Rory could still get one by the end of their holidays.

"Yeah, of course we did, but the boys cheated! They totally exceeded the hundred dollar limit! I wouldn't be surprised if they spent thousands for their gifts. And there I was with my little cheap presents. I could have killed them!" ranted Rory now.

His smile deepening, Logan remembered only too well her growing annoyance but also discomfort when more and more presents were unwrapped and it was easily evident that he hadn't been the only one ignoring the limit. Personally, he loved Rory's presents though, no matter how much they had cost. The out-of-print music disc of the Stereophonics which he had been searching for quite a while, the key ring in the form of a sea-shell reminded him of their time at the Vineyard, the pen and little notebook was classic and spoke to his reporter's heart, the little guide of things you don't want to eat in Asia had him laughing out loud and the framed picture of Judy Dench was just hilarious. They were intimate, every single one of them and the gifts for Finn and Colin had been the same. His friends were touched and were blown away by every gift she gave them.

Yeah. Perhaps, next year he'd actually try to keep the limit. This wasn't easy though. He was used to spending money and not putting very much thought into it. Searching for the right presents like Rory had given him was hard work he supposed. Gifts from Rory… priceless…he was sure of that.

He listened up when Rory spoke again, more softly, more hesitantly. "No, not yet. I'm still not sure it's such a great idea at all." She paused for a moment, no doubt listening to whatever Lorelai told her, giving Logan time to wonder what she was talking about, a slight frown appearing on his face. "Perhaps you're right, but I dunno, I'm not so sure. I mean, he could totally misunderstand it and I really don't want that." Logan's frown deepened. He was sure she was talking about him, but what the heck was she talking about? "Yeah, I know, I probably will. But I certainly didn't want to do it in front of the other guys. When I give it to him, I'll do it when it's just the two of us."

Deep in thought, Logan looked back towards the bedroom. So, if he had understood her well, she still had a present for him that she hadn't wanted to give him in front of Finn and Colin. He could understand that. He too had still one that he had wanted to give her in private rather than in front of his friends. What really puzzled him was that she was apparently unsure of her gift for him. But why? She should know by now that he loved everything that came from her.

When she continued again, her voice had perked up. "Oh yeah and they are great! First, he gave me a pair of earrings and a bracelet that matches the locket he got me for my birthday," she told Lorelai and Logan was glad to hear the joy in her voice. Even more, he was pleased to see that she wore the locket every day. She sometimes changed it with another necklace that was more suitable with her outfit when going out, but for her everyday wear or for just hanging out casually it was always the locket that decorated her neck. That knowledge filled him with a strange mixture of pride, possessiveness and gratitude. "And he also bought a live web cam for me and himself so from now on, we'll be able to see each other when we call one another from home," Rory continued, excitedly.

Logan was glad. He had had a little doubt if she really was going to like the web cam, fearing she would feel it like too much of an intrusion of her privacy. He needn't have worried. She had been as excited about the prospect to at least see each other more regularly again as he was.

"Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself," Rory mentioned at that moment and smiling, Logan shook his head. He would hopefully never get used to Rory and her Mom talking about their sex lives so easily. It just was wrong. "And are you and Dad going to celebrate in any way?"

Leaving her to her conversation, Logan slipped quietly into the kitchen and started to make Rory a cup of hot cocoa, knowing that she liked something hot and sweet, late at night or early in the morning, depending on her mood.

Once the chocolate drink was ready, he left the kitchen to go join Rory on the couch. Her eyes lit up with surprise but also with appreciation when she saw him coming with the steaming cups in his hands.

"Poor Paul Anka. But then, I guess we should have expected him to be afraid of the Christmas tree. And candles," she said and reached out to take her cup from him, mouthing a thank you at him. "Let's face it, he's a big chicken head. Everything scares him." She listened for a moment, then rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure it's me and not Paul Anka at all."

Logan sat down beside her and sipped at his own cup, making a face though. Still too hot for his taste. He liked them just on the warm side, not steaming like Rory's preference.

"Hmm, I will. And greet Sookie and Jackson from me and give the kids a kiss from me. Oh, and you won't forget to pass by Lane and Zack to give them my Christmas present, will you?" she asked, obviously coming to the end of the conversation. She laughed. "But you make such a good Christmas elf. Besides, it's not my fault that they've screwed up my order and only managed to deliver it day before yesterday, otherwise I'd have brought it to Lane myself. You've got to take a picture of their faces for me, don't forget that!" She listened for a moment, then laughed again, shaking her head. "Yeah, yeah. Okay, tell Dad hi and enjoy the non Christmas' Eve evening." Listening for a moment longer, she finally ended the call and put the phone away, smiling. Then she turned towards him. "Sorry, did I wake you?"

Logan shook his head. "Not at all. I just woke up and you weren't there. So I came investigating your whereabouts." Of course one could argue that he only woke up because he had sensed the loss of her presence beside him, he guessed. "How's Stars Hollow?"

"Fine. It has snowed again last night and all this morning, so they have a truly white Christmas now. Basically, it's all the same more or less," she answered and took a careful sip of the chocolate drink. "Thanks for the hot cocoa. It's just what I wanted right now."

Smiling, Logan took his cup and moved so that Rory could lean against him while he held her loosely with his free arm. "I figured. And your parents? How are they holding up not celebrating Christmas?"

"Badly. As everyone knows that I'm not home and plus that it's their first Christmas together as a couple they all invited them for a dinner here or a brunch there. Tonight it's Sookie and Jackson. And they'll go by Lane and Zack for me," Rory told him, cuddling up more into his arms.

He remembered her comment at the end of the conversation with her mother as he took a sip of his cocoa. Much better. "What did you buy them?" he asked, curiously.

Looking up, her eyes gleamed mischievously. "A baby guitar and baby drums among other things. I know it's a bit early and the twins have not been born yet, but as I'm going to be godmother I thought I can start early with the presents. And considering who the parents are, I bet those two will play music before they even learn to speak. I thought I'll see to it that they at least can do it properly."

Logan laughed. "I'm sure Lane and Zack will thank you once they start 'playing'."

"I'm sure of it. But I hope it will cheer up Lane a bit. She's taking the break from her drums because she is so pregnant pretty hard and then later, she will have her hands full with two babies at the same time," Rory said with a sigh and leaned her head against his shoulder while drawing his arm closer around her. "But I think it will be okay. She's strong, she has proven that several times by now. And I'm sure she'll return to the stage as soon as she can. Luckily it's not like Zack wants her to quit drumming at all."

Sensing that they were entering dangerous territory, Logan changed the topic. They had talked about kids already and he thought it was better to let it rest as it was until the question of kids became real for them in a few years. That was, if she said yes.

"I have something for you," he whispered into her ear as he put away the now empty cup and reluctantly disentangled himself from her while she looked at him questioningly. "Wait here," he told her and quickly went back to the bedroom. A minute later he was back and resumed his position behind her, settling her back into his arms. Only then did he hold out the elegantly wrapped gift to her.

"Logan, you already gave me so much," she protested but was already at tearing away the wrap. He just smiled and kissed her bare shoulder while he waited. "What... Oh..." Rory sighed, tentatively running a finger over the smooth surface. "Logan... it's beautiful."

Logan looked at the photograph of them lasered into crystal, carefully framed with silver, and could only agree. That's why he had picked it out. It showed them on the beach at the Vineyard, unaware that Lorelai took a picture of them… catching a moment of utter intimacy, Rory and Logan facing each other, gazing into each other's eyes, his hand cupping her face, her hands loosely at his hips, about to kiss. Lorelai must have seen them from the terrace and grabbed the nearest camera available which luckily had been Logan's to take the picture, never mentioning it to them though. Considering the stress she had had that weekend with Luke, he could understand it. When he had removed the memory stick from the camera to transfer the pictures to his computer a few months after Valentine's Day, after Rory had learned about the damn bridesmaids and their relationship had been so strained, he had been quite surprised to find the picture. Blindsided would describe it better. He was taken aback not only by the pure love that the picture represented, especially how obviously in love he was in that picture, but also by the hint of a much deeper and intense joy and happiness that could be seen with their glowing faces in the picture.

For the first time he consciously had thought that he was looking at a picture of himself and his future wife. Considering the state of their relationship at that moment, that thought had been quite wishful, a surprise. Not to mention that it had scared the hell out of him. He hadn't thought that he was ready to think about marriage yet, despite the fact that graduation was only weeks away and that he was leaving the country to go work in London. Especially because of the looming separation from Rory. But that picture… it was utterly natural, showing their naked emotions without any doubts or problems surrounding them. Showing their love for each other and a promise of even more.

He loved the picture. And he had hid it well until just the right moment to give to Rory.

"But where..." she breathed, still mesmerized by the beauty of the picture and the moment it had caught.

"I guess Lorelai. I found it a few months later," he explained quietly, tightening his hold on her. "I debated giving it to you for your birthday, but I wanted to be with you when you get this gift because I want to see your reaction, so I waited until now. A duplicate of this usually stands on my night table." He smiled. "I guess I now can put it back to its place."

Carefully putting the silver-framed photograph on the coffee table, she leaned back and reached up to lower his head towards her to give him a long, deep kiss. "Thank you," she finally said very quietly, her eyes never leaving his. "It's beautiful. Perfect. I love it."

He just nodded and gave her another kiss. "And I promise next year, we'll celebrate Christmas in Stars Hollow," he promised after kissing her.

Her eyes widened and she sat up a bit in order to face him. "Logan, no, it was beautiful so far! Don't think..."

He silenced her with a finger on her lips. "I know you enjoyed it so far. And so did I, very much. But don't tell me you don't want to rather be home in Stars Hollow, with your Mom and all your friends there," he told her quietly. It didn't take a genius to see that she missed being home and celebrating with Lorelai. The more he was thankful that she had decided to be with him this year. Still...

She opened her mouth to protest and he just gave her a look. Deflated, she sighed and shrugged. "Okay, perhaps I miss the typical Stars Hollow Christmas craze. And yeah, it's strange not celebrating with Mom. This is the first time ever we don't celebrate with each other. But..." she bit her lip and caught his eyes. "It would have been wrong not to be with you either. I loved this last evening and I even also enjoyed having Finn and Colin with us. I wouldn't have wanted to miss this either."

Logan nodded. "Good. So next year, the two of us are going to be in Stars Hollow for Christmas, no matter what, celebrating with your Mom and Dad and all the other people you always talk about. And if Finn and Colin want to, they're welcome to join us there. Deal?"

Her eyes started to shine but she still held back. "Seriously?"

"Dead serious," Logan assured her with a smile.

She still hesitated though. "But what about your family? We don't know where you'll be and I..."

"Rory," he interrupted her, taking her hands into his. "I told you before… it doesn't matter. We decide here and now that next Christmas we will be in Stars Hollow and then we stick to it, come what may."

She was quiet for a while, just looking at him, before she finally nodded slowly. "Okay."

Logan nodded decisively and gave her a smile. "Now that's settled, why don't we return to bed, you can thank me properly for your last present and then we might even get some more shut eyes before the lunatics rise again?"

But she tightened her hands around his. "In a minute. First, there's something I want to give you as well," she said sincerely and bend to take something from under the couch. A small blue box, simply wrapped with a silver bow around it. Not wanting to look at Logan right away, she looked down at the small box which she was still holding in her hands. He raised an eyebrow.

Just when he was about to make a comment to lighten her up, she finally looked up, hesitantly meeting his eyes. "I thought that perhaps we could... I mean, don't think I expect something or such a thing, it's just..." She stopped and cringed, shaking her head a little as her nose wrinkled a bit. At last, she held out the box to him. "Just look at it and say what you think. But please don't misunderstand this. It's not that I want to say anything with that... oh hell, just look at it," she finally just mumbled, looking away again.

His curiosity for sure peaked now, he regarded her furiously blushing form for a moment longer before he turned his eyes to the little box and carefully removed the ribbon before slowly opening the box. His eyes widened when the contents was finally revealed and its meaning slowly sank in.

"I really don't want to hint anything here or put any pressure on you or us, so please don't panic," Rory spoke up again, quietly, and he could feel her intense gaze on him. "But... that bimbo you mentioned a while back got me thinking, then there were the guys back home that sometimes were a bit a nuisance because they just didn't want to get the picture and now Bobby... I just thought that maybe you'll agree to..."

Logan looked up, searching her eyes, having a hard time to fight the grin. She was just too damn cute, squirming and blushing like that. "To make it more official?" he asked softly.

Her blush deepened and once again, her eyes looked downward. "Well, yeah. But it's not like an engagement or something like that. And you don't wear them on the wedding ring finger either..."

"Ace," he interrupted her rambling before it got out of hand.

She stopped and looked back at him, almost timidly. He allowed himself a smile. "I'm a man of the world and well educated. I am familiar with the concept of friendship rings," he told her, not being able to help at least a little smirk.

"Oh..." Her eyes shot briefly down to the two platinum rings on the white velvet, then back at him. "So... you don't mind?" she asked nervously.

He looked back down at the rings. They were simple but tastefully designed, hers smaller and a bit more feminine while his was a bit broader. But they obviously matched and belonged together.

"I just thought that it was kind of a cool idea and I believe it will make life at least a little bit easier for us," Rory continued, her nervousness growing. "I know they are not like wedding rings, far from it, but..."

Again he locked his eyes with hers. "But they still are a clear statement that while we're neither married nor engaged, we're still most definitely off the market so back off or even better, don't even bother to try?" he asked knowingly, his voice very quiet and sincere.

She took a deep breath, but this time she held his eyes and nodded. "Yeah, pretty much like that. And I think it's also a promise perhaps. That we love each other. That we're together, no matter the distance." She hesitated, taking another deep breath. "And that it's serious and not just a fling. That this is real and… that we're in for the long run?" The last was more a whispered question than anything else.

Caressing her cheek with the back of his fingers, he smiled warmly, deeply from his heart. "That sounds about right for me as well," he agreed.

She reached up to cover his hand with her own. "So?"

Laughing quietly, Logan held out his hand. "So I believe that since the ring is your gift for me, I guess you're supposed to slip the ring onto my finger now."

Her eyes shone like stars, but she raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that a bit very much against tradition?"

He shrugged. "Hey, don't ask me. You went and bought us rings, so tradition demands that you're the one to slip the ring on," he told her with a grin.

Shaking her head, Rory took the bigger of the rings and slowly slid it on, her eyes never looking away from his. It fit perfectly, not that he was surprised about that. It would be interesting to know how she had known the right size though. Before she could reach out for her matching ring he intercepted her though, taking hold of her hand and mirroring her action, he slid the ring onto her finger, his eyes locked with hers.

She took a deep breath and gave him a somewhat trembling smile. "Are we supposed to say something?"

He laughed but he had to notice that his laugh too was a tad on the shaky side. "I dunno. But I think everything has already been said. And we know we love each other." Getting a grip on himself, he forced himself to relax and send her a wolf grin. "All that's left to do is to seal this with having incredible, mind blowing sex."

Rory too laughed, relaxing a bit. "Do we, huh? Then again, we always have incredible, mind blowing sex so I'm not sure that's the right way to make this moment even more special."

"Ace, great sex is always perfect to memorialize any event," Logan told her but raised an eyebrow. "What did you have in mind then?" he wanted to know, curiously.

She smiled charmingly and then turned and settled her back against his chest, pulling his arms back around her and leaned her head against his shoulder while entwining her fingers with his. "To stay here, like this, for a moment longer and watch the candles burn down and then go back to bed to make sweet, tender, long and passionate love to each other," she answered with a contented sigh, looking up at him almost pleadingly.

Tightening his hold on her, Logan didn't need to think long about her suggestion. "Fine with me," he answered quietly and kissed her forehead before making himself a bit more comfortable.

For a long while, they just half sat, half laid like that on the couch, happy to be in each other arms, quietly watching the candles burn, lazily caressing the other from time to time.

"This would be a nice tradition, don't you think?" Rory spoke up quietly eventually. "On Christmas Eve, we celebrate with the family and friends, have fun..."

"And at the wee hours of the morning, we come back, light a few new candles, and have our very own, private Christmas, just the two of us," he finished as quietly, knowing exactly what she meant. His gaze wandered at their entwined hands, the fingers with the friendship rings lying beside each other, slightly clinking against each other from time to time and he felt his chest tighten with an indescribable feeling of sheer joy and happiness, and most of all, a strong sense of belonging, a notion of the future that lay ahead of them… the promise of a future together… just pure joy and happiness. "Yeah, I'd like that very much," he added, his voice raw with emotion.

She looked up at him and reached up a bit to kiss his cheek lightly. "Then let's do it. Let's make this our Christmas tradition from now on."

"Deal," he nodded then turned his head and bent down to kiss her deeply, sealing the deal.

If only she knew just how serious he was here... to think that she had been this nervous about those friendship rings. He could understand it though. Clearly, she had no idea about the ring locked away in his safe… he was just waiting for the right moment to propose to her and give her the ring. So she couldn't know just how much her gift meant to him, how even his last and slightest doubt had been washed away the moment his eyes had fallen on those rings. With those rings she had proven to him in no uncertain terms that she was as committed to their relationship as he was and that she too wanted more… a relationship for life… a future together.

Of course he was still nervous about actually proposing to her but he figured that that was the only way for it to be. But he also was almost a hundred percent sure that her answer was going to be yes and that next Christmas, they indeed would follow this new tradition for themselves, with the exception that by then they would be wearing a different set of rings, on their left hands. And perhaps, in a few years, it wouldn't just be the two of them. And much, much later he could even see them sitting like that in front of another Christmas tree, both wrinkled and white haired, cuddled on the couch together and enjoying their very own little private Christmas moment.

But he was sure, that he held his future right there in his arms at that moment… nothing could have made him happier than that or nobody could have given him a better Christmas present than that. Or rather said… a miracle… because that was what it was:

His very own little Christmas miracle.


TBC!

(Author's Note: Uff... Who'd have thought that writing such incredible fluff (and let's face it, it's almost horribly fluffy - not that I want to have it any other way. After all, it's Christmas time!) can be so hard. Anyway, I hope you haven't suffered an overdose of fluff and enjoyed it. Ha, and just how many of you have expected him to bring out the ring and pop the big question, huh! Hehehe... Sorry guys, not yet. But soon, very soon, promise. Thanks to everyone for the wonderful reviews! And remember: they are my best Christmas presents ever!)