a/n: I hope you can all forgive me for this terrible delay! I have literally been busier than ever, and now instead of being an aunt once, I am going to be an aunt on 3 separate occasions so it has been a continuous whirlwind!
Chapter 14
"You look perfect Mommy" Riley looked up at Rory as Rory adjusted a strand of pearls around her neck.
"Thank you" Rory smiled as she watched Riley twirl around the room, enjoying the moment, moments like this were the best part about being a parent. Riley was so carefree, she was the perfect kid.
"You ready?" Lorelai asked as she walked into the room wearing her own dress, "I just checked on the boys, they are ready to go"
"Is Christian going to come in here?" Rory asked, "To walk Ri down the aisle"
"Absolutely" Lorelai nodded, "But first, I have two presents" Lorelai handed a small blue bag to both Rory and Riley, "From Daddy" Lorelai explained to Riley.
"He is too much" Rory laughed as she opened up the bag to find a small box with a white ribbon around it, finding a beautiful diamond encrusted key, and Riley receiving a similar one.
"Well, he's yours" Lorelai laughed, "For the second time"
"Alright sweetie" Rory looked at Riley, "You go with Grandma, and say thank you to Daddy, and get Christian to come over here, alright?"
"Ok" Riley nodded as she took Lorelai's hand.
"You need a minute?" Lorelai asked her daughter.
"Yeah" Rory nodded.
"Second thoughts?"
"No" Rory laughed as she watched them walk out of the room, taking advantage of the moment of piece to think about how far they had come.
"I Lorelai Leigh Gilmore, take you, Logan Elias Huntzberger to be my lawfully wedded husband. In sickness and in health, for richer and poorer, as long as we both shall live"
Logan smiled as the words came out of her mouth. He recognized that this wasn't what either of them had wanted, but what mattered was that in the end, they would be together.
The ceremony went quickly, despite the fact that Rory knew from a test run that it was 27 minutes long, far too long for her liking.
"Come on Ace" Logan put his hand gently on her back and guided her towards her bridal suite.
"Logan" Rory laughed as she followed him into the room, "We have guests"
"No, my mother, and your grandmother have guests. We don't have guests" Logan corrected her, kissing her passionately, "We're married"
Rory felt herself smiling against his lips, "I love you" she whispered as they pulled apart.
"Let's just have a few minutes to ourselves" Logan held her close to his body, allowing her to rest her head on his chest.
"Ok"
Rory smiled at the memory, sure there first wedding wasn't bad, it just wasn't them, and this wedding, it would be all about them.
"Mom?" Christian looked at her as he stood at the doorway to the room wearing a grey suit that she had to assume would match Logan's.
"Hey" Rory smiled as she turned to face her son, "You look handsome, has Grandma seen you yet? She will love it"
"We already took pictures" Christian explained, "You look beautiful"
"Thank you" Rory smiled, "Is Ri with your Dad?"
Christian nodded, "What do I have to do?"
"We went over this yesterday" Rory laughed, "You walk down the aisle with Riley, and Grandpa Chris will walk me down the aisle to Dad"
"Hasn't he done that already?" Christian asked.
"He has, but this time is different" Rory assured him, "Everything is going to be better this time around Christian, you believe that, right?"
"You seem happier now" Christian nodded, "Better than before, when you and Dad were together"
"You remember all of that, don't you?" Rory sighed, she tried not to think about the effect the divorce had on her children, she tried to convince herself that the kids were better off.
"Where's Dad?" Christian asked as he took a bite of his chicken breast at the kitchen table.
"He's working" Rory lied, she still hadn't come up with a good way to explain to her son that she had actually kicked Logan out, that he wouldn't be coming home.
"Will he be home later? I have soccer tomorrow"
"You will see your Dad soon" Rory promised him vaguely, "Now eat your salad, you can't just eat the meat"
"Where is Riley?"
"She's out with Aunty Honor"
"Doesn't Aunt Honor work at the same place as Dad?"
"Yes Christian, Honor works with Dad, but they do different things"
"So why can't Dad come home?" Christian asked.
Rory knew in that moment that she couldn't continue lying to him, she needed to tell him the truth, no matter how much it hurt. "Christian, there is no nice way to tell you this, and I want you to understand that Dad and I love you and Riley more than anything in the world. This decision has nothing to do with your sister and you, but Dad and I aren't going to be living together anymore"
"You're getting a divorce" Christian shoved his plate away from him. "You always make Riley and I work on our fights! You say that we have to love each other and we have to stick together because we're family. You and Dad are family too! You have to work! You have to compromise, and share!" he shouted.
"Honey" Rory approached her son, her heart breaking that he was feeling this kind of pain, and even worse, knowing that she was responsible for this kind of pain. "Dad and I just can't do this anymore, and you and Ri will be so much happier because you'll have 2 bedrooms, and 2 Christmas's and 2 birthdays" she tried to focus on the things that sounded slightly more fun.
"I don't want 2 of everything"
"I promise it is different this time" Rory assured her son as she squeezed his hand, smiling as Riley walked back into the room with Lorelai and Christopher.
"Ready to get this show on the road kiddo?"
"I think so" Rory smiled, "Christian, Ri, you guys go, Grandma will take you down. Just give me a minute with Grandpa"
"And then you and Daddy are getting married?" Riley grinned.
"Yes" Rory smiled, "Just 5 more minutes and Daddy and I will be getting married"
"Come on" Lorelai smiled as she led her grandkids out of the room.
"Here we are again" Chris laughed as he looked at his daughter, "You look beautiful"
"Thanks" Rory smiled, "Do you think I'm making a mistake?"
"Nah" Chris shook his head, "I think you're in love, and I think you and Logan are the real deal, but you need to remember that things aren't always easy, and sometimes you have to fight. Fight to make your family a priority. I never did that, and that is why it took so long for your Mom and I to work. You need to want him as much as you want him to want you"
"Thanks Dad" Rory smiled as she took his hand, "Ready to do this?"
"It's a lot different from the last time" Chris smirked, "More you"
"Well the last time couldn't have been any less me" Rory countered quickly.
"Come on Ror" Chris took her hand as they walked out of the room.
xxxx
"I Logan Elias Huntzberger, take you, Lorelai Leigh Gilmore Huntzberger to be my lawfully wedded wife, again" Logan smirked, "I promise to be home for dinner, and not miss a single birthday, anniversary, or anything else that I promise to be there for. I promise to honour you, and love you from today, until the end of time"
Rory smiled as she listened to the words, they were different from the first time, and they were something that she knew he meant. "I Lorelai Leigh Gilmore Huntzberger promise to take you Logan Elias Hunzberger to be my husband. I promise to not sweat the little things, and I promise to not get mad when you leave your towel on the floor, or your socks at the bottom of the bed. I promise to fight for us, and our family for as long as we both shall live"
Logan laughed as he listened to her, just like when Rory heard his vows, they were just as perfect.
"By the power given to me by the state of Connecticut, I now pronounce you husband and wife, again" the pastor smiled, "You may now kiss your bride"
"We did it" Logan grinned as he kissed her passionately, pulling her close to his body.
"I love you" Rory grinned against his lips as she enjoyed the presence of their friends and family.
xxxxx
"What are you and Daddy going to do today?" Riley asked as she looked at the wedding cake with her mother by her side.
"We are going to stay up late and watch movies and eat junk food" Rory smiled, she was probably telling a partial truth.
"Why can't Christian and I come?"
"Because" Rory laughed, "But you can help with cutting the cake, and I think the candy bar that Sookie prepared is going to come out soon"
"Does it have chocolate?"
"Yes, it has chocolate" Rory laughed, "You asked for a chocolate layer"
"When does the dancing start?"
"Well" Rory looked across the outdoor tent to Logan, "I think it is going to start in a few minutes. So you remember what happens?"
"You dance with Daddy first" Riley explained, "And then, I dance with Daddy while you dance with Christian, and then I dance with Grandpa Richard while you dance with Grandpa"
"You are too smart" Rory laughed as she turned, "Let's go see Dad"
"Grandma says I'm just like you when you were a kid" Riley explained, taking her mothers hand, "You look so pretty"
"So do you" Rory smiled, walking towards Logan and Christian.
"Hey beautiful" Logan smiled, looking up from his conversation with Christian.
"Hey husband" Rory countered quickly as she saw the kids immerse themselves in conversation.
"We did it"
"We did it" Rory repeated with a smile, "So let's swear we will never have to do this again"
"I can assure you" Logan laughed, keeping his arms around her waist, "I am never going to let you go again"
"Ladies and gentlemen" the master of ceremonies came onto the microphone, "I would like to introduce the newly married, Mr and Mrs Logan Huntzberger, and welcome them to the dancefloor to share their first dance as a married couple"
"You know I have two left feet" Logan warned, whispering into her ear.
"And I have a thick skin" Rory promised as she followed him onto the dance floor as the music began to play.
"So what do you want to do in this marriage?" Logan laughed, keeping her body close to his as the music played and their guests watched them intently.
"Well, I was thinking it could not end in divorce" Rory laughed, "And maybe, just maybe we can talk about having another baby?"
"You want to have another baby?"
"I mean, if you do? We would have to talk about it" Rory felt herself blushing, they hadn't discussed having more kids, but for some reason she felt like maybe they should try again. "We have two amazing kids, so I am sure a third would be even better"
"Well I sure as hell want to spend time trying to have another baby" Logan laughed.
"Well then we can do that" Rory continued to smile as she rested her head on his shoulder to enjoy the rest of their dance. She could see the kids smiling, she could see that everyone in the room, even though there were barely 100 people, were all there because they loved Logan and Rory. It really was the perfect day, she could even see that Shira had enjoyed herself, despite the fact that it was not a lavish event the same way the first wedding was.
"Do you remember what it was like? Bringing them home?"
"It was terrifying" Rory laughed, her head remaining on his shoulder, "They just gave us those babies"
"They did" Logan agreed, "But look how they've turned out, they're perfect"
"Christian come meet your baby sister" Logan smiled as he put his hand on Christian's back, "This is Lorelai"
"That's Mommy's name" Christian stated simply as he looked in the incubator.
"We are going to call her Riley" Rory explained, "Riley is your baby sister"
"She looks like an alien" Christian told his parents as he stared at his baby sister. "Why is she all red?"
"Babies are always red when they first come out" Logan explained, "You looked an awful lot like an alien too"
"No way!" Christian looked at his father with anger on his face, "I never ever ever looked like an alien"
"You looked adorable when you were born" Rory smiled at her two kids, "I love you both so much"
xxxxx
"So a baby?" Logan grinned as they sat on the tarmac at the private airport.
"Not now Logan" Rory laughed, they were flying to the Hamptons to enjoy some time in the house that Logan had purchased for the kids. They would spend a week there, and then Riley, Christian, Colin, Steph and their kids, Finn, Honour, Josh, Tyler, Aly and Georgia would be coming to spend another week there.
"You said you wanted a baby, I am just trying to give you a baby" Logan countered as he kissed her neck gently.
"Well I can't complain about a husband who desperately wants to make me happy" Rory put down her newspaper.
"Well I'm glad you can see my point of view" Logan sat on the arm of her seat, "And it is just us in here"
"Us and Stella, the flight attendant" Rory pointed out.
"She will go away for as long as I ask her to" Logan countered, kissing her once more.
"You are too much" Rory laughed, enjoying the moment, realizing that with the exception of when they were secretly dating, they hadn't enjoyed the passion in their marriage that they should have, the passion they had when they first met, and the passion they had now. She loved the passion, the passion was something that they always had, dating back to her Grandparents vow renewal.
"Was that a yes?" Logan quipped, his kisses trailing down her neck.
"Excuse me, Mr and Mrs Huntzberger?" the flight attendant, Stella walked into the cabin.
"Stella" Rory laughed as she sat up, "What can we do for you?"
"The captain says we are about to take off, you'll have to take a seat and fasten your seat belts"
"Of course" Rory nodded, "Mr Huntzberger will head straight to his seat"
"Stella" Logan smiled at her as he wiped the lipstick from his mouth, he had a sinking suspicion that it would be there. "Once we are at cruising altitude if you wouldn't mind just bringing in a bottle of champagne, and then you can leave the two of us, we really won't be needing anything"
"Of course Mr Huntzberger" Stella nodded as she turned back towards the front of the plane.
"So we will have privacy" Logan smirked at his wife.
"Of course we will" Rory rolled her eyes as she put her seatbelt on.
"What can I say, I'm a jack of all trades"
"I'm going to work on my book, until we get this supposed privacy." Rory told him, grabbing her laptop.
"You are all work and no play" Logan laughed, "How did we end up together"
"Years of practice and careful calculation"
"Just relax Logan, maximum 10 minutes until you get your supposed privacy" Rory told him, opening her laptop.
As mothers, we all know that our goal in life becomes making sure our children have everything they could ever want, and everything they could need. We want to give them everything that we didn't have, even if we grew up in the most loving and amazing families, we decide that it is our responsibility to make their worlds as perfect as possible. But what happens when we do this? We somehow end up neglecting our partners, and then one day you look at your husband, wife, spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, or whatever, and you realize that the passion is gone. Suddenly you don't steal moments, or glances, there is no spontaneity, you surely don't have quickies in the morning, mainly because it is a possibility that your kids are in your bed, and you can't sneak away into a quiet room at a party, because what if your kids break something. How can you keep this from happening? I hope you weren't expecting an answer, because I have yet to figure it out, but it is something that as partner's, we all need to be aware of. Keeping the fire in a relationship is undoubtedly the hardest part, but sometimes the most important.
Anyone who read my last book knows the struggles I went through with my divorce. The ups, the downs and everything in between. What I realize now, is that what my marriage was missing was passion. We stopped looking at each other as lovers, and we considered ourselves partners and parents first. When my father walked me down the aisle, giving me away for the second time, to the same man, he told me something about love and relationships. He told me to fight for my family, and I realized that what I really needed to do was fight to keep the spark in my relationship. I promised myself, as I walked down the aisle that I wouldn't let the sparkle in my husband's eye fade away, because I need that spark, we both do. So how on earth do we keep this spark? Two kids and a million years later, how on earth can we keep this alive?
"10 minutes are up" Logan interrupted her process, "Come on" he took the laptop and pushed it closed.
"Hey, I was working on that"
"Thank god for auto save" Logan grinned, "Come on, we're on our honeymoon, you want a baby, this is the perfect moment"
"What the hell" Rory grinned as she stood up and kissed her husband.
"That's my girl"
xxxx
"We cannot just spend a week in bed" Rory told Logan as she put on her bathing suit, "I am going to sit by the pool"
"Why are you wearing a one-piece?" Logan asked as he set down his newspaper.
"Have you seen the other women in this town?" Rory laughed, grabbing her sunglasses, "They all look like they spend their entire lives in pilates class. I do not exactly have the same body I had before the kids"
"Rory you have exactly the same body you had before the kids, and you look amazing no matter what you are wearing" Logan stood up, grabbing his own swimsuit from his drawer.
"You're coming?" Rory ignored his comment.
"Yes, I'm coming" Logan pulled off his boxers and put on the swimming shorts, "I'm on my honeymoon, my job is to spend time with my beautiful wife"
"Have you called the kids today?" Rory asked.
"I have called them" Logan told her.
"You look good" Rory commented as he walked out to the pool, "When on earth have you had the time to work on those biceps and that six pack?"
"Divorce, I had a lot of time on my hands" Logan kissed her, "Are we going in, or just doing that weird thing that girls do when they sit beside the pool but don't actually go in it"
"Girls are night weird"
"You're right, you're a woman, the weird thing that women do"