Legacy
Disclaimer: The Gilmore Girls does not belong to me; it belongs to the CW and Amy Sherman-Palladino.
Chapter 8: Family Legacy
"Everyone must leave something behind when he dies . . . Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die . . . It doesn't matter what you do, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away."
― Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451**
-GG-
Logan Huntzberger was intrigued by the legacy daughter who was to be inducted into the Life and Death Brigade. It wasn't everyday someone with such a distinguished pedigree would be joining the ranks of those who called themselves an 'anarchic collective'. It was odd to Logan that he had never once met this phenomenon. He always assumed he'd met everyone there was to know in society, though it could be this particular girl socialized in different parts of society, those parts that Logan's mother was not allowed in.
Hmm…Gilmore-Hayden…Lorelai Gilmore-Hayden; sounded quite prim and proper. He hoped she knew how to have a good time and would fit seamlessly into the current group. She was an enigma to the members of the LDB. Seth was withholding all information about the girl and anyone who knew her was not to say a word to the rest of the group. Suffice to say, Logan was not amused.
"Did you hear about Gilmore-Hayden?" asked Colin.
Logan hadn't seen hide or hair of Colin since the beginning of the semester. He had been busy doing 'school work' every time Logan or Finn wanted to go out and party. "I only know her name and that she's a legacy. She's got quite the pedigree being a Gilmore and a Hayden."
"Oh yes she does. She's a cousin of mine through her grandmother Emily Gilmore nee Cabot-Lodge."
"Oh…so you've met her," asked an intrigued Logan. Finally! Someone who had met and spoken to the girl.
Colin realized his mistake the minute he uttered the words. Logan had to know everything about everybody and therefore could not wait patiently for the big reveal. "I don't know her very well, but I've met her scant few times. Can't say anymore than that buddy! Seth's orders are that those who know her; should not say anything until she's pledged and we receive a biography."
"Colin…"
"NO! You have to wait just like everybody else," said a stern faced Colin. He hoped the vehement refusal would put off any argument Logan was going to dish up.
Logan only rolled his eyes as he looked around at the busy workers who were setting up for the event. "She must rate quite the influence if the LDB is buzzed with excitement. Why are those men walking around with a sniffer dog?" asked Logan.
"I guess Seth wanted the facility to be secure?!" said Colin lamely not explaining the real reason.
"Why would…" began Logan only to be interrupted by Seth.
"Oh thank god I found you!" said Seth running up to the two men. The poor guy looked like he was going to fall over.
"Seth, you need to calm down. Everything was going smoothly when we last spoke. What's happened?" asked Colin in a soothing voice trying to calm down the event organizer.
"Yes…it was all fine until I got a call from my father. He mentioned how important it was for the LDB and me that this event goes off without a hitch. I think we need more champagne, but I bought the particular brand the guest of honour likes from my only known distributor…I need help!" ranted Seth before sitting heavily down on the nearest flat surface, which just happed to be upended chairs.
Logan felt bad for the guy and therefore patted him on the back. "Leave it to me. Just tell me the brand and you'll have an endless supply."
"Thank you! It's Dom Perignon Rose."
-GG-
Rory Gilmore-Hayden was blissfully unaware how her debut into Yale society, most importantly her induction into the Yale chapter of the Honourable Life and Death Brigade was causing such maelstrom of activity among its current members. She was simply out shopping with her three best friends and thinking about what she was going to wear.
"You're going to love it, that Seth Otis Graham Norcross sure knows how to throw a party," said Juliet while grabbing several dresses off the rack. Juliet, Rosemary, and Paris had already been inducted into the Life and Death Brigade during pledge week. Rory was a special case due to her legacy status and her being a member of the Princeton chapter.
"There'll be people there who you haven't seen in a long time," said Paris.
"I know. I'm happy that you lovely ladies will be joining me in my foray with the LDB," said Rory smiling at her friends.
She knew that she was going to see Logan Huntzberger again. The two of them hadn't talked since their conversation at the pub. She didn't know how to react when he was genuinely regretting his lack of familial connection to his Forbes family members.
"I'm glad we'll be sharing these experiences with each other," said Rosemary as she held up a dress in puce, which Rory axed in favour of another.
"I had a chat with Grandfather and he mentioned that we should think of this as a great way to make connections that we did not previously have and a perfect networking opportunity," said Rory looking pleased as punch.
Paris was the only one nodding to Rory's lecture, while Rosemary and Juliet had gone prematurely deaf because they did not respond to the talk at all. Rory and Paris were always the serious ones of the group while Rosemary and Juliet made the other girls break out of their shell once in a while.
"There'll be some really handsome men to choose from tonight. I'm looking forward to meeting new guys since most of the men of our acquaintance are either too old or somehow related to us," said Juliet.
"All the prominent families have intermarried. We're all related to each other in some way or another. I'm related to Josh Greenspan through our mothers. Rory is related to you, Rosemary and several other people. It's an incestuous group," said Paris.
"If you only allow your sons and daughters to marry those with prominent last names then your marriage pool is going to decrease as the generations go on. I'm probably going to end up married to a guy who is distantly related to me," said Rory in a blasé manner as if she was discussing the weather.
"Oh yuck!" said a disgusted Rosemary.
"But the truth," countered Paris.
"Maybe there'll be European nobility or royalty in attendance and we won't need to worry about kissing cousins," said Juliet naively.
"Oh Juliet," sighed Rory. Sometimes Juliet was too much to handle.
"Was it something I said?" asked Juliet looking to the others as Rory left to go to the opposite side of the store.
-GG-
The party was in full swing as Logan made his entrance. He had come with Finn and Seth since Colin had mentioned that he would meet them there due to a last minute change in plans. Colin was elsewhere most of the time and Logan had a feeling he was seeing someone. It was probably someone who wasn't part of their social circle therefore Colin was embarrassed. Colin was the most snobbish out of all of Logan's friends, but the guy really needed to loosen up.
However, today was not going to be his friend's odd behaviour rather it was going to be about the new pledge to the Life and Death Brigade. The LDB had rented out the grand ballroom at the Plaza hotel and it was done up to the specifications of one Seth Norcross. It was old world glamour and brought to mind European aristocracy.
"Mighty fine party we have here mate," said Finn looking around at the beautiful people.
"Yes it seems like the LDB has spared no expense for this new inductee," said Logan.
"Not just any inductee, but a legacy one at that. Do you have the scoop on her?" asked Finn curiously. He had never once met this Lorelai Gilmore-Hayden though he was somehow related to her through her great-Grandmother. It was all convoluted.
Logan could only sigh and shake his head. "Not a word. Colin has met her handful of times because he's related to her through her grandmother, however he wouldn't spill the beans."
"Weird…I'm related to her through her great-Grandmother," said an inquisitive Finn.
"She's related to everyone!"
The two men continued to joke about the new inductee. However all around them, the Life and Death Brigade were watching each other carefully during the grand debut of the legacy pledge. Logan Huntzberger was not chosen to say the pledge rather one Finnegan Benjamin Stuart Rothschild had decided to make his claim known. He had surprisingly revealed that Lorelai Gilmore-Hayden was his second cousin through his numerous Stuart cousins. Apparently, Miss Gilmore-Hayden was part of a prominent bloodline in the aristocratic circles all across Europe. The LDB watched as everyone took their places for the main event, the pledge of one young lady.
Logan was looking forward to setting his eyes on the entity so he could see her and easily dismiss her. He was going to stay the allotted time then head to the pub to see if he could track down Rory. He wasn't desperate, which was for losers who didn't take the initiative, rather he was brave. Logan knew his fascination with Rory was rather sick since all she did to him was throw scathing remarks his way. He was a glutton for punishment.
Colin and Finn were sipping champagne and watching everyone run around acting crazy. The two of them were the only ones not making any nervous movements. The LDB needed a break from this momentous occasion; they were picking up bad habits.
"So have you met Cousin Lorelai?" asked Finn.
Colin sighed. He knew how incestuous their group of friends were, however it really didn't click until Rory. She was related to him and Finn in distant ways, but they still shared ancestors.
"I have met her. We have a few classes together, and no I will not tell you about her!" said an exasperated Colin.
"Hmph!" grumbled Finn.
"You'll meet her in a few minutes."
"It's not the same as having met her before this event. I'm her family and am meeting her for the first time!" replied a moody Finn.
"I'm sure you met when you were babies since her great-Grandmother is your Godmother…well one of your many Godmothers," mumbled Colin.
"I told you my mother comes from the prominent House of Stuart and we are related to royalty in some form or another. According to Gran Georgina anyways…" trailed off Finn deep in thought.
Colin rolled his eyes and looked up at the podium where Rory would be introduced.
"Can I have your attention… members of this Honourable group! I would like to begin the festivities tonight and get this special pledge ceremony off the ground. Let me introduce three newly pledged members of this establishment to give a brief history of our new member. Ladies and Gentlemen: Miss Paris Eustace Baron Geller, Miss Rosemary Constanza Rose Endicott, and Miss Juliet Edwina Viola Bradlee!" said Seth.
There were wolf whistles amongst some of the rowdy members of the group since they had already imbibed more than their fair share of alcohol. Paris only had to give them her menacing stare to get them to hush up. Sometimes it was amusing watching her work.
"Good evening! I welcome you all, the members of the Life and Death Brigade, to this propitious event. We are here to introduce a young lady near and dear to our hearts. So without further ado let's begin…" The girls had decided they would split the speech into different sections with each one of them taking a segment.
"Miss Lorelai Chaffee Putnam Gilmore-Hayden is the great-Granddaughter of
Mr. Charles Abbot Putnam Gilmore, Yale '21 and Mrs. Lorelai Endicott Putnam Gilmore, Yale '21.
And
Mr. Edward Chaffee Quincy Hayden, Princeton '21 and Mrs. Lillian Cabot Dudley Hayden, Vassar '24.
The Granddaughter of
Mr. Richard Abbot Endicott Gilmore, Yale '64 and Mrs. Emily Cabot Lodge Gilmore, Smith '65.
And
The Honourable Justice Straubert Chaffee Dudley Hayden, Princeton '63 and Mrs. Francine Peabody Eliot Hayden, Princeton '64," said Paris
Juliet continued. "Miss Gilmore-Hayden is part of a long tradition of Yale and Princeton legacies. She had attained a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Administration with a minor in Sociology from Princeton University, class of 2004. She is currently working towards a Bachelor of Arts double major in Children's Literature and Greek Mythology at Yale."
"Miss Gilmore-Hayden is working as Vice-President in charge of Operations at Hayden Enterprises and will one day succeed her great-Grandfather as Chief Executive Officer at Hayden Enterprises," said Rosemary proudly looking out into the audience of astonished faces.
It was decided amongst the three friends that Paris should start and finish the speech. "Miss Gilmore-Hayden is already part of the Princeton chapter of the Life and Death Brigade therefore she simply needs to be inducted by saying the solemn pledge. I now call upon Mr. Finn Rothschild to say the pledge on behalf of the Life and Death Brigade, Yale Chapter."
Finn handed over his drink to Colin and made his way up to the podium. Rosemary and Juliet were at the microphone and said together, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we present to you Miss Lorelai Gilmore-Hayden!"
Logan literally choked on his drink as he saw exactly who had come out on the stage. He should've known it was her since she acted like the Hartford Elite, but he couldn't seem to wrap his mind around the fact that Rory was up there. He talked with her and could not fathom all she had achieved in her young life. She was a genius, an honest to goodness genius, who already had a degree…hell she was running her family business on a part-time basis. He was bitter and a little hurt. He couldn't believe Colin didn't warn him ahead of time and Rory just omitted her last names!
She looked like a queen looking over her subjects as she stood on the stage next to Finn. He watched as Finn kissed her cheeks and tried to put together the fact that this slip of a girl was related to both of his best friends. She seemed to hate him because his family wasn't one of the established families with accumulated wealth, history, and genealogy rather they made their money recently.
"Can I have the attention focused on me please! Alright…Cousin Lorelai repeat after me:
I solemnly swear to keep the secrets of this esteemed group, the Life and Death Brigade, and all that it may entail. I swear to uphold the honour of this group and bring praise to its members. I swear to provide help to its members both past, present, and future to the best of my ability. Lastly, I promise to uphold the legacy passed down to me by my forefathers. In Omnia Paratus Lorelai! Welcome back!" said Finn after Rory had repeated his words. He gave her a hug as the rest of the group broke out the champagne.
Rory smiled as she accepted the congratulations of the LDB graciously like she was raised to do. She saw Logan close to the bar just watching her. He didn't seem to be over the shock of finding out her identity. She had made it her business to watch his reaction closely when she had walked out on stage. He actually had no clue who she was before now; it was an interesting turn of events.
-GG-
"Hello Lorelai," said Logan looking at the vision in front of him.
Rory looked back at him and moved in closer so their conversation would not be overheard by curious ears. "You thought I was someone after a position in one of your father's papers. I remember exactly what you thought about me and I told you exactly what I thought about you and your family."
"Why didn't you tell me from the beginning that you were a Gilmore-Hayden?" asked Logan looking angry.
"I don't need to tell people about my family that's simply crass and done by plebeians. My family is my business and has nothing whatsoever to do with my being introduced to people. I have no reason to throw my name around like some wet behind the ears juvenile. You acted the way you usually act," said Rory looking at him with derision.
"I know how you feel about my family so you don't need to use big words to say we're trash and not good enough to associate with the likes of you. There was no need to lie to me about who you are," said Logan looking at her like he didn't know her.
"How I feel about your family is one of many faults I find in you. I was introduced to you in a way that wasn't normal. You don't know everything about me Logan and don't presume to guess my motive behind leaving you in the dark about my family. Most of the time I can't stand to be in the same room as you."
"I met your great-Grandfather Edward a few weeks ago," said Logan. He didn't seem fazed by her harsh words anymore.
Rory was so caught off guard that she could only stare. "Is that right?"
Logan smiled, took a hold of her hands and gently lifted them up to place a delicate kiss on one of her wrists then the other. He knew his gesture was throwing her off. His lips lingered on her wrists than was proper.
Rory did her best to steady her gaze and look back at Logan with no emotion. It was hard. His sweet gesture was so unexpected and something she couldn't comprehend coming from Logan. He didn't seem like the old-fashioned type of guy who kissed a girl's hands. "What exactly are you trying to prove Logan?"
He held her hands firmly in his. "I wish you wouldn't fight me the whole way."
Rory moved away from Logan's close proximity and it allowed her hands to be released as she moved further away from him. "You don't know me. Don't think for a minute that you aren't the same overbearing, ill-mannered, little boy that you were when we first met. I didn't want you to know who I was because you knowing wouldn't have made a difference in the grand scheme of things. We don't mingle in the same circles and therefore will not have a problem when we go to social functions. Your grandmother Catherine would have been disappointed in the fact that you've got none of the Forbes virtue."
Logan felt like someone had hit him with a sledgehammer. He could only watch as Rory walked into the fold of the LDB. How did she know his deepest darkest secrets…how did she know about Grandmother Catherine?
**Quote from: www . goodreads quotes /tag / legacy
AN: Thank you for those readers still reading my stories. I hope you enjoyed this installment of Legacy. Let me know what you think. ~LE
