It had been a really long time since she'd felt this tipsy. In fact, even with the drunken fog that clouded her mind, she could pinpoint the exact pub in Tampa where she and two of her co-workers had visited after Romney's address at the Republican National Convention. Hurricane Isaac had been a threat during the week, and she remembered Jon convincing her that surviving the hurricane required drinking hurricanes. She also remembered the hangover the next morning and how sure she was that the plane flight back Washington was going to kill her.
Thank God she didn't have anywhere to go tomorrow morning, because tonight was even more blissful than the end of the 2012 Convention.
"What a wonderful party! What a wonderful day!" She flopped back on their bed, still wearing her party dress and her brand new black pumps. "It was magical. It was like it was Hollywood 2008 and I was the non-slutty Paris Hilton. Wasn't it all magical, Logan? Or should I call you fiancé now? Fiancé! That can be your new nickname. I've always felt bad that you don't have a cute nickname like me. I'm Ace. Ace is just not that creative. I can't believe I'm going to bed tonight with a fiancé!" she slurred as she rambled, with the comfy bed underneath her and the room spinning just so slightly.
"And I can't believe how drunk you are." A completely sober Logan grinned as he grabbed her ankles and spun her on the bed so her entire body was on the comforter.
"But we needed to celebrate. And your company had already paid for the champagne. I was just being a polite guest," she argued, as she laid her head against the pillow. As he laid a blanket on top of her and tucked her in, she felt him lay on top of the comforter with her and push his arm underneath her shoulders. As she fell asleep, she began to reminisce. "What a fun, fun day."
Immediately after they finished lunch with her family, they said their goodbyes and headed to Tiffany's. The sales associate had been prepared to give them the professional spiel, knowing that Logan was the owner of one of their major marketing groups, but she hadn't need be. Rory had walked in, took one look at the cases and found the perfect emerald cut ring. She quickly tried to hide her infatuation with the diamond, knowing how much the sparkler cost, but Logan had seen her reaction and had halted the sales pitch. Despite much argument about the price tag, Rory admitted defeat and walked out of the store with 3 carats on her left ring finger.
"This was incredibly impractical, Logan. You know I'm not going to be able to travel with this on." She half-heartedly nagged as they walked hand in hand down Fifth Avenue, all the while admiring her new trinket.
"We'll go to Target. Get you a $5 travel band. Will that make you happy?"
"Oh, I'm sure your mother will just love that I'll be wearing discount store jewelry. Is she at the hospital now?"
"Yeah. I probably need to go up there before the Christmas party. You don't have to come with me," he squeezed her hand and his trademark smirk spread across his face. "But I really, really want you to. If only to see my mother turn into Maleficent in front of my very eyes."
"Far be it for me to deprive you of the joy of seeing your mother turn into a fairy dragon. Let's go."
Rory had felt self-assured and proud on their walk to the hospital, sure that no matter what Shira had to say to her, she could overcome it. She wasn't the same 20 year old that had once had her confidence rocked by the socialite. It was 10 years later, and she was an accomplished career woman who ….how had Shira said it all those years ago…"wants to work." But walking into the waiting room, all of her confidence began to waiver as she saw the platinum blond woman in her silk blouse and expensive wool pants sitting icily scrolling through her social calendar.
Shira hadn't spotted them yet when Rory whispered to Logan. "Maybe this wasn't the best idea. I can still sneak out of here. Perhaps find an elevator that takes me all the way down to China."
"Don't think Shira can't find you in China. She's got her debutant firing squad all over Asia." He whispered back. "Her Real Housewives buddies are thick as ninjas."
"She knows the "Real Housewives?" Rory hissed in excitement. " Of New York? LuAnn? Ramona? For real?"
"She's still mad at Andy Cohen for not picking her for Season 6."
"But she lives in Hartford!"
"Exactly. And she's pushing for Honor to be cast for the next installment since she actually has a New York address" He put his hand on the small of her back. "Sure you want to marry in to this mess?"
"Fascinating!" she exclaimed.
"What's fascinating?" A cool voice interrupted their hushed conversation. "Why don't you two stop cowering in the corner and come over and join me?" Shira moved her bag to clear a spot for Rory and Logan to sit.
"Mom." Rory watched as Logan kissed her cheek. "How's Dad?"
"Oh the same. Nothing new. Nothing traumatic." Shira brushed off his concern. "Rory, dear. So good of you to come with Logan. You're such a good friend to him."
Friend. Well, Rory thought to herself. She supposed friend would work. "Well, that's what 'friends' do, Mrs. Huntzberger." She saw the amusement in Logan's expression.
"Do you want to go back to see him? They are letting multiple people go back for a few minutes at a time, now that he's awake? I can organize this later." She closed her calendar. "My new assistant Lexie is just horrible. She had me double booked at Gardenia Gala and a DAR luncheon for next week. I really just don't think she's going to cut it. You don't know how lucky you are, Rory. To have one job with one sole responsibility? The luxury of not juggling a schedule? I truly envy you."
"Yes, being a political analyst is quite the walk in the park." Rory retorted with passive aggressive sweetness.
"And all the travel you get to do on the company penny? It must be wonderful."
"Oh, I take advantage of the company credit card, all right." Rory gritted through her teeth.
"Mom, why don't we go back to see Dad?" Logan stood up, as if to prevent an actual rumble from taking place in the MICU waiting room.
"Yes, let's." Shira headed for the door, but stopped to turn around to face Rory and Logan. "Oh, Rory dear. Are you coming too? How lovely. I'm sure Mitchum will be just thrilled to see you."
As they walked down the long MICU hall, Logan squeezed her hand in solidarity. She looked at him with playful frustration, but she could tell he was amused at the secret they were keeping. He was obviously giddy at presenting this to his Mom, and he reminded her of the young school boy he'd been when they met, absolutely giddy at causing Doyle mischief or jumping off scaffolding in a tux.
When they arrived at Mitchum's hospital cubicle, Rory was taken aback by how much the man had changed. The dark room was small, but the man in the bed looked even smaller than she remembered. She hadn't been face to face with him in close to 7 years, the last time being at Logan's birthday dinner. She had seen him once from a distance, at one of the Inauguration Balls in 2008, but she hadn't initiated conversation. He looked older, feeble even. He was still hooked up to wires and IV lines, but despite his sickness, she could see delight in his eyes when he saw his son come in the room.
"Logan, back again so soon. And I see you brought the lovely Rory. What's it been, 5, 6 years? How've ya been?" Despite his raspy voice where the tube had been in earlier, she could still detect the slight southern accent in his verbal delivery. "I've read some of your pieces. You've got quite the following."
"Well, thank you sir. And how are you feeling? I know you gave Logan and Honor quite the scare."
"He scared us all, dear." Shira said possessively as she placed her hand on Mitchum's shoulder. "I'm just so glad you are ok."
"Oh, I'm fine. Ready to get out of here and back to work. Shame I don't have someone on the inside who can keep me apprised of what's going on in the ranks." He half-joked, his eyes darting to Logan.
"Dad, don't start with this right now."
"Well, it's true, Son. You've got that company of yours, and I'm not gonna bull you. It's good. But a merger! Well, now that's the cat's meow right there."
"Dad…..not. now."
Rory could feel the tension in the room start to rise, despite the frailness of the patient. Nervously, she began to twist her shoe necklace with her fingers. But when she saw a look of horror cross Shira's face, she pulled her left hand back down to her jean pocket instinctively.
"Logan, what is 'that' on Rory's finger?" She put emphasis on 'that' as if she was referring to a mouse or a bug. The disgust was evident in her delivery.
"Well, Mom, that would be an engagement ring. I asked Rory to marry me this morning."
Shira put her hands to her forehead, as if to stop the headache Rory was sure she was getting at the moment. "Oh, Logan. How could you?"
"Mother, stop."
"I mean, no offense, Rory. You're perfectly lovely. You've aged well, and your delicate features are still so darling. But Logan. I thought you'd grown out of this phase."
"A phase?"
"You've done so well for yourself. You've got your own business, and you are starting to make the society pages again. I was really hoping you'd settle down with someone who'd take care of your affairs for you and provide a good home. Like I have for your father all these years."
Rory watched in amazement as Mitchum snorted in laughter at Shira's rant. "Well, if that's not the biggest wad of bull I've ever heard." The weak man turned towards his wife. "Shira, hun. Shut up." He said nonchalantly and matter-of-fact.
The bottle-blond matriarch angrily pushed her hair behind her ears in amazement. "Mitchum! How dare you?"
"I basically bankrolled your membership into all of those high society clubs you are so proud to be a member of and where you spent your time instead of supposedly making a good home for our boy and Honor. So don't give me that mumbo-jumbo." He turned toward Rory and pointed his finger directly at her. "Listen, I know you just started coming around these parts again, but I've always been thankful to you."
"To me?"
"Yes, to you. Logan grew up. He became a man, and you played a big part in that. You made him go to London. You encouraged that silly start-up he invested in. You even told him 'no' when his childish notion of marrying young crossed his mind. You pushed him in ways I never could. You shook him up. And I'm a man who doesn't admit when he's wrong."
"I don't think that's what you are doing now, Dad." Logan interjected
"Will you all just shut up?" Mitchum directed question to his son then focused his attention back to Rory. "It takes a big man to admit when he was wrong, and I was wrong. Pop, rest his soul, was wrong. And my lovely but short-sighted wife was wrong."
"Speak for yourself," huffed Shira.
"Holy. God." Logan muttered under his breath. "Watch out. Lightening's about to strike the place, Ace."
"I'm serious. She's made a name for herself, and she's a pretty damn good reporter. Wouldn't hurt to have her name connected to our family."
"Always thinking of the ulterior motives, aren't you, Dad?"
"Hell, Son. Work the connections where you can." Mitchum's smug smile spread across his face. "Now, if I can just get these damn tubes out of me, we'd be in business, and Rory and I could start working on convincing you to merge your little company and my empire."
"I'm 100 percent positive that's not going to happen, Mr. Huntzberger."
"Please, call me Mitchum. You're an adult now, Rory. Call people by their first name. Shows moxy."
"Ok, Mitchum."
"And Shira, give the girl a damn break. Do it for me. You don't want to cause another stroke, do you?"
Rory watched as Shira's wide eyes batted in frustration. She'd been defeated by her one ally, and she could see Logan's mother try to regain her composure. It was eerily similar to her grandmother recoiling her frustration at their Thanksgiving Friday night dinner. Within an instance, Shira had gone from angry mother ready to pounce to accepting the future presented to her.
"I suppose….."she began. "I suppose I can call Emily and start talking arrangements." Rory had forgotten how only Shira could stretch out the three syllables of her grandmother's name so distinctively. "Perhaps an autumn wedding at the Plaza."
"Oh crud." Rory thumped Logan. "I forgot to call my grandparents. Um, Mrs. Huntzber—I mean, uh, Shira, do you think you could wait to call her until after I've given her the news?"
"And it's not going to be an autumn wedding," Logan added. He looked at Rory. "I don't want to wait that long. I know this has all happened so fast, but I feel like I've been waiting for you forever. And I don't want to wait anymore."
"Well, the absolute soonest I'll allow is summer. People will gossip if it's done sooner." Shira sighed and put her hand in her headache position again. "I'm going to be the talk of the club."
"Oh, my dear Shira," Mitchum said mischievously. "This isn't going change things. You've always been the talk of the club."
Knowing that they had crossed a major hurdle of telling Logan's parents, Rory was free to enjoy the evening at the Logan's company Christmas party. With the holiday only a few days away, his employees were full of merriment at the prospect of some well-deserved time off, and they celebrated with the liquor flowing.
Logan had proudly introduced her to his colleagues. "This is my girlfrie—I mean, fiancé, Rory Gilmore," he'd stumbled to one of his developers, followed by a huge adorable grin that made Rory melt. And when she met his investor's wives, they all wanted to see the new ring on her finger.
At the height of the party, Logan had stepped out to the sidewalk of the restaurant to take a business call from one of his clients. When he didn't return after a bit, Rory went outside to check on him. She could tell he was talking coding and internet language when he hung up the phone.
"Hey, you." He rubbed her jacketless arms for warmth. "It's too cold out here for you. Let's go inside."
"I'm ok." She said as he opened up his coat to bring her into his embrace. She could feel his body heat against her frame, and it was all the warmth she needed as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "I just came out here to check on you."
"Well, I'm glad you did." He kissed her forehead. "Big day, huh?"
"Big day." She rested her head against his chest when a question came to mind. "Hey, Logan. What happened to my first ring?"
"First ring?"
"You know. The one from graduation day."
"Oh. That first ring."
"Yeah. Did you sell it back?"
"No. All sales final, Ace."
"Did you pawn it?" She paused. "I bet you could have been featured on Pawn Stars. High-society runaway pawns ring to fund start-up internet company? I bet Rick and Corey Harrison would have featured you. And you could have met Chumlee!"
"No, I didn't pawn it."
"Well, what did you do with it?"
He paused. "I still have it."
She leaned back to stare at his eyes. "You still have it? But why?"
"I don't know. I guess I knew it didn't belong with anyone else."
She laid her head back against his chest. "I didn't stop loving you either, Logan."
He held on to her a bit longer before releasing her from his overcoat. "Come on. Let's go back inside."
"I'm never going to another company Christmas party ever again." Rory complained as she sat down on the couch where Logan was reading the Sunday paper. "I'm not quite sure how Lindsay Lohan lives like this."
"Well, we can't all be pros, Ace." He moved the paper out of the way so Rory could lay her head in his lap.
"The room. Still spinning. Like a disco."
"A disco!? I didn't know I was marrying John Travolta." He began playing with Rory's hair as she curled up next to him."
"No, you're marrying the ravishing creature lying here in front of you."
"I remember one time when the ravishing creature came into my dorm room with an octagon print on her forehead."
"Who'd have thought all it took was me getting hung over to get you to be my boyfriend?"
"Ah ha. So you admit it was an ultimatum."
She turned over to look at him. "That's not what I said!"
"That's the way I heard it." He reached over to the coffee table and handed her a bottle of water. "Here. Hydrate."
"Aww. You love me."
As he was starting to respond, she heard the familiar ring of her phone. As he handed it to her from the coffee table, he gave her instructions. "If that's work, you don't answer. It's the Sunday before Christmas, and you just got engaged. Tell them whatever international crisis is brewing can wait."
She looked at the caller ID fully prepared to hit the voicemail button on any familiar numbers. But she saw an unfamiliar New York area code calling. "Hmm….I think I better take this one."
She sat up on the couch, and slide the phone into call mode. "Gilmore."
"Rory. Hi, this is Mark Stanford with ABC News. Can I have a moment of your time?"
Shocked, Rory shot up from Logan's lap and stood up from the couch immediately. The President of ABC News was calling her on a Sunday. She held up her finger as to say "one moment" to Logan and walked into his office. "Sure, Mr. Stanford. What can I do for you?"
She returned to the living room 30 minutes later, still in a dizzy fog, but this time not because of her hangover. She silently sat down beside him, on her big red comfy couch.
Logan put down his paper in anxious expectation. "Don't leave me hanging here, Ace. What was that about?"
"That was Mark Stanford."
"I know who Mark Stanford is, Rory. What did he want?"
Still stunned, she starred at the wall in front of her. "He said he had heard through his sources that I had recently moved to New York, and he had gotten approval from my bosses to reach out to me. He said he had really enjoyed the pieces that I had contributed on over the past few months with the network, and they wanted to offer me job as their new junior chief international correspondent."
"Holy. Ace. That's amazing!" He grabbed her into a huge embrace. "This is absolutely incredible."
"I know! I'll still be able to file pieces for the magazine and for their website, but I'll be able to cover a lot more stories. It's everything I ever dreamed of! It's Christiane Amanpour." She turned to look at him, wide-eyed. "Oh my God. She still does pieces for ABC News. I'll be working WITH Christiane Amanpour. Oh my God!"
"I assume this needs to no pro-con list?"
"There is no con! Just pro." She laid her head back on the couch. "I can honestly not believe this."
"I'm so proud of you, Ace." He kissed her cheek. "See, moving to New York was a good thing."
"Oh. Absolutely. Now, I have to call my mom." As she started to dial, though, realization hit her. "He said I would have to go to Egypt though, as soon as the papers are signed. He anticipates the deal going through towards the end of the week. That means I'm going to have to leave right after Christmas."
"Did he say for how long?"
"Trips like those have no end-date. Probably a few weeks or so." She sighed. "That means I won't be here for New Year's."
She had expected this. In fact, it was the very thing she thought of back in D.C. as she packed her belongings in the moving truck. Before, she received assignments and had no reservations about hoping on a plane and flying to her next unknown destination. But having him in her life again? It meant she was leaving something important behind. In an instant, all of her doubts from 2007 were confirmed. She needed to turn down his proposal then, or else the wide open future she'd been able to take advantage of wouldn't have been opened to her.
She was older now. The twenty-two year Rory wouldn't have been able to balance it all, and the wide open future meant more to her than anything.
But now?
He did.
"Listen, Ace. This is part of it. We knew it was going to start up first of the year when the book goes full blast. And my business will pick up in the first of the year when we start getting new sales accounts. It will just start a big earlier than we expected."
"But the week after we're engaged? Seriously, Logan. I've been a fiancé less than 24 hours. And now I'm planning to traipse across the world? This was not the schedule we'd talked about."
"Hold on." He stood up from the couch and walked into his office. She could hear the tap of his safe that he kept underneath his desk. When he walked back to the living room, he was holding a familiar navy velvet box.
"Logan. What's that?" She asked, although she knew exactly the contents of the box.
"Well, I told you last night I always thought this ring was only meant for you. So, this…." he opened up the box and held the small diamond ring he'd presented so many years ago, "This is your travel ring." He took off her large Tiffany ring and put the original on her ring finger. "You are going to Egypt, Ace. And I'm going to talk to you as much as you are able to, and I'm going to see you on the news every night. And you are going to wear this ring so I can see it on air," he said twisting it around her finger. "So I'll know I'm on your mind."
She reached up to kiss him. "God, I have you whipped."
"Seriously whipped. If you had spurs, I wouldn't spook."
"Good one." She settled into the quiet of the apartment and settled into his embrace on the couch. "It's just going to be different this time, leaving. I didn't have that before. I wasn't leaving someone I loved behind. I mean, I left my mom and family. But that's different. This time, I'm leaving you behind. My fiancé." She thought for a minute and beamed. "That's still so cool to say!"
He thought for a few seconds, and a look of excitement came across his face and he sat straight up on the couch. "Well, what if you weren't leaving behind a fiancé."
"You can't come with me. Remember? You can't leave your people. That's why we nixed D.C."
"No. That's not what I mean." He pulled his arm from around her shoulders and grabbed her hand. "What if I wasn't your fiancé?"
She nervously tugged at a loose him on her Yale sweatpants. "Are you taking back the proposal? I don't understa—"He interrupted her with another kiss. He placed his hand on her cheek and put his forehead on hers.
"I'm not taking back the proposal. But Ace, what if you weren't leaving behind your fiancé, but you left for Egypt with a husband instead?"
