Chapter 9: Planning
"Still happy?"
Looking up from admiring her ring for the umpteenth time since Logan had proposed to her almost nine hours before, something Logan was more than thrilled about, Rory smiled warmly. "More than ever."
"Good," he sighed happily, stroking her back. "Me, too."
Her fingers gently stroking his chest, she looked up. "Thank you, Logan," she said earnestly.
Meeting her gaze, he raised an eyebrow. "What on Earth for? If anything I should be the one thanking you. You said yes." He made a face. "I don't know what I'd have done if you hadn't said yes. I really don't."
"Well, that's not something you'll ever have to worry about now. And I can't believe that you actually had any doubts about my answer! You know I love you," she pointed out, giving him a look.
He shrugged. "Rory, a guy who isn't nervous about his girl's answer when he proposes doesn't really care about her or her answer in the first place. And yeah, I know that we love each other, but how was I supposed to know if that was enough for you to actually want to marry me and spend the rest of your life with me? Or, if it still wasn't too soon for me to ask you?"
A little frown appeared on her forehead as she thought over his words. Finally, she gave a small nod. "Yeah, I see your point. But you needn't have to worry. It's more than enough… my love for you. I can't live without you anymore, I learned as much last year, with the accident that nearly took you away from me forever and then these last six months having to live so far apart from each other... Trust me, I don't have to think twice about me spending my life with you, as your wife, one with you." She leaned up, giving him a short, but deep kiss. "And as for the right moment: now is perfect. But that's what I wanted to thank you for anyway. For this wonderful proposal. It was just... just so perfect. I never expected the way you've done it, but now I can't imagine it any other way anymore. It's got to be the most perfect and fitting proposal ever and for that I thank you."
Stealing a kiss himself, he leaned back with a smile, so happy to have the stress and tension that had gripped him for the last months finally having left him. "It was the only true way to propose to you that came to my mind. I admit there were times I've thought about other ways, most of them something real big, LDB big, if you know what I mean, but I had my doubts if you'd have appreciated that way much."
"You sure were right with this one," she nodded. "I know, some like it if it's done in front of a lot of people or at least the ones who love you most… but I don't know. A proposal is something private, I can't help but think that it should also happen that way, just between the two people who love each other. Just like the way you did it." Her eyes glanced to the paper scroll on the night table and a warm smile formed on her face. "How can a girl say no to such a wonderful, thoughtful and beautiful proposal?"
Logan sure was glad to hear how much she had liked the way he proposed to her, but she sure had his curiosity peaked. "Would you have said no if I had done it the wrong way? Like on a party or in front of the whole student body of Yale?"
She eyed him for a moment, skeptically, and then shrugged. "Honestly? I don't know. I love you and I want to marry you but if you really had done it like that... Maybe. You know how little I like big public attention and I guess you can fuck up a proposal by showing so little respect for your girlfriend's preferences by choosing such a way to propose, so my first reaction may have been to say no. Wouldn't have meant that that was a no in the long run. You'd just have to ask me again, properly."
He made a face. "Not sure I'd have done that, Ace. A guy has his pride. Having my heart crushed once by you saying no would probably have been one time too many for me."
She shook her head and kissed him, settling her chin on her hands lying on his chest afterwards. "Then I'm just happy we never have to find that out, seeing the perfection of your proposal and my logical answer to it."
"Yeah," he smiled, caressing a lock of her hair out of her face. "Now all that's left for us to do is tell everyone. Then survive the wedding preparations they are going to force us to go through. I tell you, I'm already looking forward to the day you and I can leave for our honeymoon, having all the craziness behind us."
Rory grimaced. "Grandma will be a pest, I'm sure of it. Especially as she never could live out her fantasies for Mom's wedding - and especially now being cheated on it by Mom and Dad eloping like they did. With you being who you are, she'll insist on making a big thing out of this. I've seen it, you know? She helped in preparing Sookie's wedding for a while and went totally nuts over it. And that was just the wedding of someone she barely knew. Then there was the renewal of their vows. You've been there. You've seen to what extent she's gone to for that one, and that in only a couple of weeks."
"Well, once Mom accepts that this wedding will take place, she too will insist on a big wedding," Logan pointed out, grimacing himself. "And I'm not sure there's a way to stop them short of eloping ourselves."
"I know," Rory sighed. "But I don't want that. Sue me, but part of me actually wants that big wedding. I want everyone we love there, and on my side, that's basically the whole of Stars Hollow plus a few people form Yale and then of course Mia needs to be there as well."
"She's the woman who took your mother and you in, when Lorelai run away, right?" Logan asked, milking his memories of Mia.
Rory nodded. "That's right, you still have to meet her. She's like a grandmother to me. You'll like her."
"I just hope she'll like me if she's so important to you," he answered, mentally sighing as he put yet another name on the list of people he needed to try to befriend, for Rory's sake. "And you're right. There are some people I want to be at our wedding, some you've yet to meet as well. Then there's the extended family. And I fear Dad will insist on at least a few business contacts too." Seeing Rory's face, he stroked her head. "I know, I know. I'll try to talk him out of it. But a wedding between the Gilmore heiress and the Huntzberger heir is a big deal, Rory, we can't escape that fact. In the end, to handle the publicity the announcement of our engagement will make, it will be easier to be open and inviting about it. If we try to keep it too small there will immediately be ugly rumors flying around about our relationship and the reason for the wedding and I refuse to let such rumors mar our wedding and put more pressure and stress on the preparation that it will cause already anyway. I promise I'll only allow them to invite only really important people and only people that I actually like and would invite to a big wedding either way."
She nodded. "I guess you're right. Grandma and Grandpa will probably want to invite some of their friends, too. At least most of them will probably be on your folk's list as well, right?"
"Probably," he agreed, mentally going through Honor's wedding guest list last spring.
"And I'll get Mom to hold back Grandma. If anyone, she's going to be the one who will be able to do that. Besides, I'm not about to give her free rein on my wedding. I'm more than capable of organizing my own wedding, or to at least decide on the major points. I am a DAR girl too after all and I've learned from the best," Rory said with fierce resolution.
Logan had to smile. "That you are," he agreed, remembering her short full time stint in the DAR. He was surprised when Rory actually stayed a member after her return to Yale, despite Emily's wishes. She even had gone to some meetings and parties since then, keeping in contact with the ladies. He wondered if it had had to do with her realization of her impending inheritance and position in high society. But he had a lifetime to ask her about her motivation and now he certainly had other things on his mind to talk about, or even better, do.
"Now that we've settled on this, there are only two more things to discuss," Rory said, seemingly reading his mind.
"When to tell them all?" he asked, knowingly. At Rory's nod, he nodded. "I've thought about it already and I think it's easiest if we just get it over with. In person though. So I thought I'd leave with you Friday and take you home, go with you to Stars Hollow to tell your parents. That is, if you want us to tell them together. After that I'll continue to Hartford to tell my family. They should be home this weekend. And then we could perhaps meet with your grandparents, too. The way I know Honor, she'll insist to meet us for lunch or something, too. After that it will probably be time for me to head back to London already. But once we've told them, they'll handle the announcement and that should take care of the rest of the world."
Her eyes searched his. "Just you?" she quietly asked.
Knowing immediately what she asked, he sighed, cupping her cheek. "I know you want to come with me to my parents, but trust me, it is better if I go tell them by myself."
"You expect so much trouble from them about our engagement?" she asked and he could see the disappointment and slight hurt in her eyes over that. He hated that.
"Honestly? I don't know. I think it's very possible that at least Dad and Mom won't object to it anymore. But just in case, it's for the best I face them alone. You don't need to hear what they might say should I be wrong about it," he softly told her. "Besides, I'll have to talk with Dad about what this means for my future in the company anyway and that's really something just between him and me."
Rory was quiet for a moment, but then nodded with a sigh. "I guess you know it best so I'll just trust you on that. But once we're married, I won't let you get away with that anymore," she warned him and he had to grin. He sure liked to hear her talking like that. Once they were married... A certainty now, not just a wish anymore or a meaningless expression. "And just for your information, I definitely want you to be there when I tell Mom and Dad. Well, I'll perhaps tell Mom in the kitchen in private, but you need to be there nonetheless."
"No problem with me there," he answered, not able to help feeling his stomach clench in nervousness at the thought of facing Christopher and Lorelai as Rory's fiancé. He bet there would be one or two uncomfortably talks with them when Rory wasn't around.
Not that he could blame them. In their position he would want to warn him off as well.
"So, now that that's settled, what's the other thing we need to decide on?" he wanted to know, choosing to rather think of other things than the possible wrath of Rory's parents.
To his immense interest she blushed. "Well, isn't it obvious?" she timidly asked. But when he just raised an eyebrow, she rolled her eyes. "When do we actually want to have that big wedding?"
"Oh..." he mouthed, amused. But she was right, they still had to settle that one.
"Something tells me that you've already got a suggestion for that, don't you?" Rory asked, eyeing him closely.
"Maybe," he admitted, smiling mischievously. "But hey, is this any wonder? I know I want to marry you for at least eight months now, ever since the accident. Naturally, I also thought about the actual wedding."
"And are you going to share those thoughts anytime soon?" she urged him on, but then she did a double take. "And really? This long already?"
He nodded. "I told you. The accident made some things very clear for me, you being on top of that list. Waking up with you by my bedside, realizing that it really was you I've heard while being unconscious, I knew then and there that this was it. That you're the girl I was going to marry and no one else."
"And you waited this long to actually ask me?" she asked, her eyes wide, but filled with love anyway.
"Yeah. It was still too soon before. And I needed to think everything through… and to carefully test the waters about how you thought about marrying me," he replied softly, caressing her cheek.
"Fool. You know, I probably would have said yes right then and there, had you asked," she said, her eyes suddenly very bright.
He smiled. "Well, how was I supposed to know that? Besides, this way was better, I think. But it does give me hope that you'll agree to my suggestion for when we'll have the wedding," he continued nervously.
She was right. He had pretty much planned it out. He just wasn't sure if she was ready to marry so soon.
"Just spit it out already, Logan," she prompted him, once again rolling her eyes.
"Well, I thought we could marry this summer, after your graduation. Late June perhaps, still giving us some time between your finals, the graduation and my planned leave from the London office in early June," he suggested, searching her face for any reactions. "Our trip to Asia could then be our honeymoon. And when we're back, we can start our new life, together."
She was silent.
Damn it. It was as he had feared. That was too soon for her.
"But we don't have to marry so soon, of course. Just thought that maybe it was a good point in time for both of us. But I can perfectly understand it if you want to wait longer, first set out on your own in the business world before becoming married to me. I'm okay waiting a bit longer, perhaps a year or so, you know? It was just an idea, and I knew it was probably too soon, but... well, I guess I'm just too eager to finally marry you and it would make things easier with insisting to Dad to relocate me to wherever you're going to work and..."
Rory shut him up with a kiss.
"Uh, well..." he murmured when she let go of his lips, unsure what to make out of this.
"I think that was the first time I got to shut you up in a rant," she said, her eyes sparklingly amused. "I see why you prefer to do it this way with me. Sure is funny."
He glowered.
Laughing, she planted another kiss on him before laying down her head onto his chest again, her eyes locking with his. "June, huh? Boy, Grandma will have such a fit when she learns that she barely has six months left to organize our wedding."
He needed a moment to digest her words, but once he did, his eyes widened. "Wait… you're okay with marrying so soon, really?"
"I admit, I never expected marrying right out of college. Given the task to find a date by myself I would probably have chosen something later on," she said. "But you're right. We have been a couple for a while now and when college is over for me, I don't see why this new part of my life shouldn't already be combined with what will dominate the rest of my life - namely being married to you. It's not that I'm afraid that just by marrying you I won't be my own person anymore. Your family may expect that from me, but I know you don't, quite the opposite as it is, and that's all that counts. I know you won't hold me back just because we're married. And, you're right about us marrying soon will make a lot of things for our life together less complicated after the end of the school year and your year here. Also, I like the idea of more or less only having six months for the preparations. Maybe that will stop Grandma and whoever else from making our wedding into too much of a circus. For the very least it will subject us to only six months of craziness and with having the finals I can ditch it for perhaps another month as well. So yeah. We're going to marry in June."
"Seriously?" he asked, still having trouble believing it. Sure, he had hoped that Rory would go for it, but he hadn't really thought she'd agree to it.
She laughed, giving him a kiss. "Seriously. Besides... You're not the only one eager to finally make our relationship official," she quietly added, gazing into his eyes for a moment before laying her head back down onto his chest, her arms slipping around him. "I think we've been apart long enough this year. I need to be with you again, period. And with us married it won't be so easy to just tear us apart again."
"No. No, it won't," he agreed, holding her close to him, kissing the top of her head. "Then again, they may have managed to separate us physically..."
"But we never were really apart anyway," Rory finished the sentence for him, tightening her hold. "Together while apart. I bet they didn't expect that when your dad forced you to go to London for a year."
He grinned. "We sure showed them."
"Hmm. And we still have a lot more to show them, don't we?" she asked, looking up, her smug grin matching his.
"Definitely," he confirmed and brought her up for a deep kiss, rolling them over. There was still a lot to talk about, he knew... but for now, it was time to make a more sincere expression and direct demonstration of the engaged couple they now were, he thought as he entwined his fingers with hers, enjoying the feeling of the rings they had exchanged over the last few days - barely able to wait for the last set of rings they would exchange in six months.
"So... any idea on the actual date for our wedding?" Logan asked much later, while playing with her hair.
"Actually, yeah, I do," Rory answered to his surprise. "As we're leaving for Asia July 1st, I think the 29th will be ideal. Especially since it's a Friday, giving us the Saturday to enjoy our first day as Mr. and Mrs. Huntzberger in all its glory." She regarded him for a moment. "Of course, I have the suspicion that that may have been the reason why you've put our flights on a Sunday."
He shrugged. "Not necessarily. It's more agreeable to travel on a Sunday than on a Saturday. But yeah, maybe I did think this way it would be pretty convenient. You sure you don't want the wedding on Saturday though?"
"No. First, I don't like the number thirty that much and I always wanted a nine in my wedding date, that or a complete booze date. I'm not waiting with our wedding until the 11th of November 2011 though," she denied on the spot. "Besides, this way, we may limit the number of guests some more, some of them not wanting or able to come on a workday. Those who are really important to us would save the day for us without any problem," she added with her eyes gleaming impishly.
He laughed. "I like the way you think, future Mrs. Huntzberger." He paused, frowning. "Uh, by the way, how do you think about that? Do you even want to take on my name?"
"Yeah. But I'd like to officially go with Gilmore-Huntzberger," she answered. "And as L.L. Gilmore for work. Mainly because I'm the last one of the Gilmores, you know."
"That's okay, Rory. You don't need to explain. I would even understand it completely if you don't want to take on my name at all," he assured her and it was the truth. He was glad that she wanted to take on his name at least partly, but he wouldn't have minded otherwise either.
"No. We're going to become a family so I think that should also be shown in our names. And if I had a brother, I wouldn't mind taking first the Huntzberger name only. But I really think Grandpa would like very much for his name to live on and strangely, so do I," Rory answered though.
"Who knows? You may still get a brother, now with your parents married," he smirked.
"Yeah, and if that happens, he'd be a Hayden," she countered. "But what about you? Do you want to include my last name to your name?"
Never really have thought about that before, he mulled over her question for a moment. His decision was made fast and easy though. "Yeah. Change it to Huntzberger-Gilmore. You're right, our names should reflect us. And Heaven knows I'd rather be a Gilmore than a Huntzberger, apart from the fact, of course, that then we'd be related and I seriously would have a problem with that."
"I figure. For the record, I'd be seriously displeased by that as well."
"Happy to hear that," he smirked. "Hey, since we're already at settling our names, how about that when we have two children, we'll name them too with slightly different last names. One with Huntzberger first and one with Gilmore first so both of the names will be carried on at least to the next generation?"
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Really? You think we can do that?"
He shrugged. "It's unusual, I admit, but why not? We are the Gilmore-Huntzbergers or Huntzberger-Gilmores. We will carry both names. Why not our children as well?"
"Yeah, why not?" Rory slowly nodded, reaching up to kiss him on the cheek. "Thank you, Logan." She chuckled. "Mr. Logan Elias Huntzberger-Gilmore and Mrs. Lorelai Leigh Gilmore-Huntzberger. Jeez, I hope we won't have to often make any official announcements. The printing of our names alone will cost a fortune."
"One I'm sure we will be able to afford," he deadpanned.
He received a mild punch for that one. "Ha, ha, very funny."
"Hey, what do you expect?" he defended himself. "You worrying about the costs for printing of our names on some announcements in the face of who exactly we are is kind of hilarious, you've got to admit that."
"Yeah, well, just because we're going to be impossibly rich doesn't mean that we don't have to be conscientious about our expenses," she just lectured him though. "Especially seeing as we're about to start a family, planning to have kids at some point in the future as well."
He sighed. "Rory, between you and me we have enough money to get a whole baseball team through the best schools and colleges and they still wouldn't need to actually work to live."
"A whole baseball team? I think not. I draw the line at two, at the most three kids," Rory said, giving him a look. "Besides, didn't you say that you want our children to be brought up to respect the value of money?"
"Yeah, I did," he nodded, rolling his eyes. "Doesn't change the fact of the size of our fortune though." Then he smiled, warmly, stroking her stomach. "And two or three kids are perfectly fine with me, don't worry."
Her eyes met his, holding the same warmth he felt. "Good. But not for a few years yet. I do want to first work on my career."
"Rory, I already told you, I don't want to have children right away either. For now, I want you just for myself for a while longer. But you need to be prepared for our families urging us constantly to have kids from the moment we're back from our honeymoon," he warned her.
She sighed deeply. "I figured that much already when Grandma and Grandpa started to hint how great Cape Cod would be for children. And asking you straight out how you stand about children on the very first family dinner you attended with me."
He laughed, remembering that evening. "God, you have no idea how much they scared me by those hints. Only because that's what I more or less expected by hooking up with a society girl did I manage not to run right then and there."
"You hid it very well," she said dryly.
"Yeah well, no one can say that I didn't get my share of proper etiquette education," he said with a shrug. "But trust me, if I had had the impression that you thought like them we would have never gotten together. It was hard enough to come to terms with needing you in my life so much so that I actually wanted a real relationship with you, exclusive, boyfriend and girlfriend."
"And now look at you, being engaged to that very same girlfriend of two and a half years now," she joked, softly. "Talking about china patterns and kids and all of that without even the slightest panic attack."
"Hmm. To a high society girl whom I actually madly love on top of that," he nodded, gathering her closer. "But I resent that comment about china patterns. I will avoid that conversation for as long as I can."
She laughed. "What is it with guys and their reluctance to pick out china?"
"We're full-blooded, hetero guys," he simply answered, proving it to her with a hungry, ravenous kiss that left both of them breathless and steering their thoughts far away from china patterns.
"Honey, I'm back!"
Groggily opening an eye, Logan looked around. Rory was still fast asleep in his arms. So that could only mean...
The door to their bedroom was thrown open widely and next thing he knew bright sunlight flooded the room.
"Time to get up, lovebirds!" the same voice as before singsonged, having the audacity to start whistling.
Rory moaned and snuggled deeper into his body. "Make it stop."
Opening his other eye, he glared at the tall Australian standing beside their bed. "Fuck, Finn, go away and please don't come back anytime soon."
"Tz, tz, tz. Really. It was bad enough that you two losers ditched us for Sylvester and New Year. Our holidays are almost over. We need to get the best out of the rest we have. And that's certainly not by still being in bed by four in the afternoon!" the annoying voice just told them though and Logan felt a tug at the bed covers.
Seeing as they both were naked under the covers, Logan sat up with a growl, tugging the cover back and making sure that his Ace was still properly covered. With her being his fiancée now he was even more reluctant for anyone else but him to have a chance to admire her in all her glory. "Finn, I mean it. Leave us alone. You and Colin just go out by yourselves."
"No way," Finn pouted and once again tugged at the cover, harder this time, causing it to slide dangerously low, at least for Rory.
Becoming seriously pissed, Logan yanked it back and glared at the guy who was soon going to be dead. "Finn."
"You can hiss all you want, but we came here to spend time with the two of you and still left you alone for three days," Finn just said, unfazed. But he didn't tug at the cover again. "But now it's enough and I demand my quality time with my love and my best mate."
With a deep sigh, Rory's head came up and she sat up with a tired groan. "Damn it, Finn, can't you wait 'til tomorrow? For your information, we didn't get that much sleep in those three days."
"Way to go, mates! I seriously expect you to not have had much sleep though or you two have some real problems," Finn retorted with a smirk. "All the more reason to go out with us now, so your bodies get adjusted to a normal rhythm again. And exhausting you so much so that you'll have a good nice long sleep tonight to be fit for the last days of our holidays."
"Or you leave us alone now and we will be even more rested for tomorrow," Rory reasoned, yawning, finger-brushing some stray locks out of her face.
"Uh, uh, missy, you'd just go back to do the naughty dance and..." Finn stopped, gasping, and before they knew what was happening Finn jumped onto their bed and grasped Rory's left hand, staring wide-eyed at the engagement ring on her left ring finger while she desperately tried to hold the bed cover in front of her with her free arm. "Oh my God. Oh my God! I don't bloody believe it!" He slapped Logan's back. "You dog! Why didn't you tell us that was why you ditched us! I can't believe you finally did it! Oh, my God! Colin! Colin! Get your sorry ass in here. You won't believe it! Our boy finally did it! He actually did it!" Finn practically shouted, bouncing up and down.
Sure enough, Colin appeared in the doorway soon after, frowning. "Jeez, Finn, what's the ruckus all about?"
Still bouncing and still holding up Rory's hand with the engagement ring on, Finn turned to him, glowing with excitement. "He did it, Colin, he did it! Our mate finally found his balls and did it," he exclaimed, shaking poor Rory's arm all the while.
Colin's frown deepened and he looked from Finn to the hand in question to Logan who was busy glaring at Finn to Rory who was blushing furiously, but nonetheless beaming with a wide, happy grin, and back to Finn and the hand he was holding up. His eyes widened and he was over by the bed in a flash, grasping Rory's hand to study the ring as well. And he started to grin. "About time," he laughed, looking at Logan. "I already started to believe that you chickened out after all, with you taking so much time."
"Well, as you two can see, I didn't. Now would you please let go of my fiancée before you rip out her arm?" Logan asked through his teeth, glaring.
Right now, those two were definitely stuck on the con list, he thought darkly.
Rory sighed in relief when Finn and Colin released her hand finally. "Thanks. Now if you could leave as well, that would be great," she told them, holding up the covers some more.
"Leave? Now? What are you thinking, love? Certainly not! Our best mate finally popped the question! And now he and our love are going to marry! Naturally, we've got to celebrate this now!" Finn protested, but at least he bounced off their bed.
"Finn's right with that one. And I'm going to be the best man," Colin emphasized, daring Logan and Finn to protest.
Not that that would impress the Australian. "Like hell you are! That's my job! Everyone knows that that's my job!"
"Well, I said it first. And may I remind you that I'm Logan's oldest friend? This is so my job!" Colin argued.
"Ha! As if those two years make any difference! You were still in diapers then anyway. And I already claimed to be Logan's best man when we were five, so I was so first!" Finn shot back.
Colin snorted. "And I even before you showed up at all, so you lose. Loser!"
"Oh, come on, you can't seriously..."
Finn was interrupted by a loud whistle and he and Colin looked back to Logan. "Correct me if I'm wrong but I think it's still me who decides who will be my best man. And I swear to God, if you two won't leave this room right now, I'm going to ask Josh to be my best man. Now out!"
"Hey, man, you can't do that!"
"Josh?! Have you lost your mind?"
Logan just pointed outside, glaring.
Grumbling, Colin grabbed Finn and dragged him out with him. "We're still going out to party!" Finn shouted back though. "I'll give you two thirty minutes before I come get you."
They were finally alone again. Slipping out of the bed, Logan padded to the door and closed it, sagging against the door. "I know. My friends. Big, big con."
Her arms sinking down, Rory chuckled. "Then again, it's nice to see how happy they've been about the news."
"I guess so," he sighed and looked at the closed door. "I just would have appreciated it more if they hadn't barged in here like that. Besides, what did you expect?" he asked, looking back at her. "They love you. And they've been nagging me to propose to you since year one. Of course, they were happy to hear that I've finally done it."
Rory looked surprised. "Really?"
Laughing, Logan padded back to her and leaned down to give her a light kiss. "Really really. They drove me crazy, I tell you." Straightening up, he sighed. "What now? Do you want to go out?"
"I don't think Finn will leave us a choice," Rory smiled.
Logan shrugged. "I could lock the door."
"And he'll just pick the lock. Or kick it down. Or find some men to unhinge it," Rory pointed out.
For a moment, Logan thought about that. "Probably," he conceded in the end.
"Besides, they're right. We've had all of yesterday and today to celebrate our engagement just between the two of us. These are your best friends, they're happy for us and they want to celebrate it and I think they have every right to want to," Rory said and true to her word slid out of the bed as well to get up on her toes to kiss his nose. "So stop grumbling and get ready."
Instead, he gathered her up in his arms. "Bossy, are we?"
"Well, now that I've got your ring on my finger I can finally show my true self," she retorted, grinning.
He grinned back. "Ha, I knew this nice, angelic girl you always put out is just a facade."
"Exactly. In truth I'm this terribly bossy know-it-all who just wants your money and status." She checked him out. "And maybe also you as my very own sex-slave."
"Hmm, I think I like that one," he murmured, tightening his hold to kiss her deeply.
At first she sank into the kiss, but then she suddenly pushed him away. "No, no, no. You shower, now. I'll find something to wear in the meantime."
Reluctantly, he let her go. "Okay, okay. But Finn can throw the biggest tantrum the world has ever seen, I give him three hours max and then I'm taking you back here."
"Fine with me," she just said with a shrug and followed him to the bathroom. While he turned on the water, she watched him. "Logan?"
"Hmm?"
"That with the best man will be a problem, won't it? I mean, it can't be easy for you to decide between both of your best friends."
Testing the water, he turned back to her. "That's why I'm not going to decide. I'm taking them both as my best men. Finn will be in charge of the bachelor party and Colin will hold on to the rings during the ceremony. They both are going to make their best man speech. And they can share the preparation work." He smirked. "Just don't tell them yet. I want to let them squirm and rot for a while longer. They've deserved that for all the nagging and joking I had to go through for the past three years because of you."
She grinned. "Two best men, huh? Grandma will love that one."
"You're so mean," Logan remarked, shaking his head. "No wonder I love you so much."
"But actually that suits me just fine. This way it will be much more easier for me to get Lane and Paris to be both my maids of honor," Rory said.
He shot her an incredulous look. "Paris? You want Paris to be one of your maids of honor?"
She shrugged. "If I had to choose I'd pick Lane. But I wouldn't feel completely right about it. I know, Paris is - well, Paris, but she really became sort of a best friend as well these past years. In some ways, she's closer to me than Lane while in other ways, Lane's closer. This way, with both of them as my maids of honor, feels right."
With a sigh, he nodded. "Well, you've got to know it best. But I'm not making Doyle a part of my party, no way."
Laughing, she stepped to him and kissed him. "Don't worry, you won't have to. I think with having two of each we better leave it at that and not add a flock of bridesmaids and groomsmen on top of that."
"Ah, yet another thing Emily will love to hear," he smirked.
"I bet. Now take your shower," she told him, pushing him under the hot stream of water.
Gripping her hand, he pulled her with him and she stumbled in with a yelp. "And I'm thinking we should share the shower," he told her smugly, keeping her from falling by pushing her up against the wall. "Remember, Finn's going to come back for us soon. We wouldn't want to be late," he murmured against her neck, leaving a trail of kisses on her wet skin.
Her head fell back to give him a better access to her neck. "No, I guess not," she breathed. "That would indeed be… unfortunate."
"Exactly," he agreed while pushing her higher as she was slinging her legs around him.
"Your turn, Logan!"
Raising an eyebrow, Logan quickly exchanged a look with his fiancée (God, how he loved to call her his fiancée!), shrugged and went obediently to the bar to get Finn and everyone else another round. The last one, if it was up to him. Celebrating with their friends was nice, but frankly said, in the moment he was way more interested in just spending the remaining time he and Rory had, together. Making love, talking more about their wedding and their future - just be together.
The past six months had been hard, with being so far away from his heart, no matter how close they managed to remain despite the physical distance between them - but he had a feeling that the months until summer would be twice as hard. Somehow, these holidays had brought home so very much just how wonderful and satisfying it was to live together with his Ace. And now with finally having the absolute certainty that they loved each other and would be marrying soon, start a family one day... The thought of being separated from Rory was nearly unbearable and really the only shadow that marred his otherwise complete happiness.
Then again, it was only for five more months, wasn't it? And they'd see each other again for Valentine's Day. And as often more as they could arrange it. Plus, he had bought them the webcam so they would be able to see each other daily.
Still...it was not the same, no real substitute to have her with him, able to touch and kiss her whenever he wanted to, make love to her.
"Logan? What a coincidence! It's great to see you."
Blinking, Logan turned around. "Bobby, hey. What are you doing here?"
"We closed the Richards deal today," Bobby answered and nodded over her shoulder. "Steven and David are here as well."
"Really? Good work. Richards sure was a tough nut to crack," Logan nodded. "I knew why I gave it to you to close it."
"Thanks. Hey, why don't you join us? You did all the preliminary work for it after all," Bobby suggested.
Logan was just about to answer when he felt Rory's hand on his shoulder, just before she appeared at his side. "Hey, Logan. Finn's glass is empty so he sent me over to see where you are with the supply."
The bartender chose that moment to come back with the bottles of champagne and whiskey he had ordered and Logan, slipping an arm around his Ace's waist, pointed at him. "There it is. Rory, you remember Bobby, my assistant?"
"Sure," Rory said and Logan had to suppress a smile at the sudden coldness in her voice. She sure was cute when jealous, no matter how ridiculous that was in the first place. "Hey, Bobby. How are you?"
"Rory. Good, and you?" Bobby smiled back.
Leaning her left elbow onto Logan's shoulder, Rory beamed back. "Absolutely fantastic."
Logan could swear he saw her wriggling a little with the finger that now wore his engagement ring and did smile this time. Bobby too noticed it and her eyes widened in surprise. "My, my, looks like congratulations are in order, right?"
Rory spread her fingers and held her hand out. "Oh, you mean our engagement? Yes. Logan asked me two days ago. We're here to celebrate it with our friends. Hey, why don't you join us? The more the merrier."
Logan raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised at Rory's offer, but he shrugged. "Sure. Rory's right. Go get the boys and come over."
"Of course. We'll be right over," Bobby nodded with a grin and vanished into the crowd.
"Ugh, she's such a bitch," Rory grumbled right away.
Logan gave her a look. "I don't know what you have. She was perfectly nice to you. And she seemed happy for us."
Rory sighed and shook her head. "It's almost cute how ignorant you've become of wiles like that woman is sending off." She grabbed his head and kissed him briefly. "Not that I complain."
He thought about protesting, but in the end he settled with a shrug and paid the new bottles. "If you hate her so much, why did you invite her over then?"
"Hate is too strong a word. She's just annoying," Rory corrected him and took the champagne. "And to rub it into her face of course. That I've won and got you for good while she got nothing." She huffed. "It may be petty, but the more she sees how happy and so in love we are, the better. And it's not like she could ruin our night. Nothing could bring me down from the cloud I'm on at the moment."
Logan smiled and shook his head. "Rory Gilmore, I think I'll never figure you out completely. But I love you anyway."
"Why, I sure hope so, Mr. Huntzberger. Wouldn't want you to get bored in twenty years," Rory smiled.
Reaching their table, Logan put the bottles down to take his bride-to-be into his arms. "Never," he assured her lovingly and kissed her, ignoring the cat whistles from his best friends.
Settling back into her seat, Rory put up the arm rest and curled up against Logan, letting out a deep, contented sigh. "This has been the most beautiful Christmas and New Year holidays I've ever had."
"Likewise," Logan smiled.
"And the best of it all is that I don't even have to leave you, but have you coming back home with me," she murmured. "Even if it's only for three days."
"Yeah, I've got to be the bad, heartless guy who leaves you once again," Logan replied sarcastically, his thumb caressing the back of Rory's hand.
"Look at it this way… as the man you're more capable to bear the emotional pain resulting from having to leave the one you love behind," she suggested, looking up at him.
Logan smirked. "I'd never thought Id hear you admit that we men are the stronger sex."
"Blame my still newly-engaged-excited mind for being still in awe and all giddy like a five year old," Rory gave back and, as the plane started to taxi, sat up straight. "Besides, I only said that you insensitive hunks deal better with emotions 'cause you ignore them anyway most of the time. I didn't say that you're stronger in general. I think that Mother Nature giving us women the delight of childbirth makes it clear, who is really the tough gender here."
"I am so not having this discussion," Logan saved himself quickly.
"Ha. Just because you know you've already lost this one," Rory pointed out and entwined her fingers with his as the plane was taxiing off the runway.
"Let's rather say I know how to pick my battles," Logan clarified and stroked in a calming manner her engagement ring, enjoying the click of the rings against each other. "Besides, we're on the way to tell your family and mine about our engagement. I sort of think it's better to save my strength for that."
"I don't know why you worry so much," Rory said, shaking her head. "Dad, Grandpa and Granma love you and I bet Grandma and Grandpa will be over the moon about finally having the wedding they've envisioned since we've been together come true."
Maybe. But in a way that was almost as scary. Especially the prospect of confronting Christopher as Rory's future husband. And he bet Richard too would have a word or two to say to him about him marrying his precious granddaughter. The brief speech Richard had given him, all those years ago after his prank on Rory, had been scary enough and then it just had been a practical joke. This was the real deal now. And Emily on a roll over their wedding was even scarier.
A thought came to him and he groaned. "Wait… will your grandparents urge us to have our wedding in Cape Cod now?"
Rory laughed and patted his hand. "I have no idea. They did buy the house there though, so it is a possibility. But don't worry. One of the things I'll insist on will be that we'll have the wedding in Stars Hollow." She paused. "That is, if you're okay with that."
Logan rolled his eyes. "Rory, for all I care we can marry on a dump or in the sewers, as long as we say our vows and become a wedded couple."
She gave him a strange look. "Really. You would be okay with that?"
Sensing the danger, Logan was quick to do damage control. "No, of course not. I was just saying, like a figure of speech. I do want everything to be perfect. But I really don't mind where we marry, as long as it's you and me at the altar. So Stars Hollow it is. I actually very much like this idea. It's your roots and the perfect place to set out from into your new life. Our new life."
"Good save," came a dry comment from the row behind them.
Logan glared backwards. "Shut up, Colin."
"Excuse me, but as your best man this concerns me also. I've got my duties after all and therefore need to be in on all details," Colin pointed out.
"You wouldn't know a Creola arrangement from a Victorian one," Finn spoke up, opening his eyes to glare over at Colin. "That's why I am the best man and you only my assistant, if you're a good little boy and stay out of my way."
Colin opened his mouth, but Logan was faster than him. "Josh," he warned both of them, looking stern and turned back forward to glance at a highly amused Rory. "Why again have they come back early with us also?"
"Because you need all the back-up you can get when you go tell your folks. And because it's just too boring without you in London," came the answer from the backseat.
"And because Finn pretty much used up all the redheads he could find in London," added Colin.
"That too," admitted Finn good-naturedly.
Shaking his head, Logan met his Ace's eyes. "I'm truly, truly sorry."
Her only answer was to laugh out loud. "Ah, no, it's okay. And trust me, the Star Hollow townspeople will be way worse than the two stooges ever can be." A worried expression came over her face. "Actually, I am kind of afraid of what will happen when Finn and Kirk meet. That can't be good." Her frown deepened. "Actually, I think that may just be one of the worst things that could ever happen to this world."
"Now who's exaggerating?" Logan teased.
But Rory shook her head. "No, Logan, I'm serious. You don't know Kirk. One of them is scary enough. But Finn and Kirk combined? Holy crap!"
"Now, now, now, Love, be careful what you say or you might hurt my feelings. I demand the title of being the craziest guy you know."
Rory held Logan's eyes for a moment longer, pointing backwards in 'see there'-gesture, then sighed. "Just don't say I haven't warned you," she told him softly.
"Relax, Ace," Logan reassured her. "I've dealt with Finn my whole life. I'll handle your Kirk as well."
"When we're home, I want you to repeat that in front of Mom. We'll laugh about that one for years," Rory just told him dryly. "Actually, I think that will definitely be a story for possible kids and grandkids as well."
"You're too funny," Logan replied, but let it be at that.
Her mention of Lorelai reminded him of having to face her. Of all the people he would have to face in the next couple of days, it was Rory's mother who worried him the most. Things between them had never been that great, each and every encounter with her somehow had just gotten worse. Mostly through his fault, he knew that. And he doubted that his brief phone call with her on the day Rory left for London had helped her opinion of him either.
But he couldn't help that now. What was done was done and all he could do now was try to somehow get onto Lorelai's good side. Because he knew only too well that while he was going to be Rory's husband and number one on her speed dial, her mother would always be the most important person in her life and it would kill her if he and Lorelai weren't able to get along.
All the more reason to be nervous about the next day. Scratch that. Scared out of his beejees about meeting one Lorelai Victoria Gilmore the Second to tell her that he was going to marry her little girl.
Damn.
Perhaps he should have asked her for Rory's hand in marriage first after all.
He wasn't sure if living and working in London was enough of an excuse to have missed out on that one.
Shit.
TBC!
(Author's Note: An update at last - and sorry, I just couldn't resist taking a few jabs against the way they fucked it up in the show. Thanks for the wonderful reviews for the last chapter, I'm happy you liked my proposal so much! Hope you enjoyed this one as well. And stay tuned for the next chapter, where the lovebirds get to tell the folks the big news!)
