Rory had started the routine of bringing her bodyguard some coffee and poptarts each morning, which he, either Rex or James, accepted graciously. She felt somewhat guilty for someone having to sit in the car all day just to keep a lookout. It had been quiet and it seemed unnecessary to her by now.
"Anything interesting happen during the night?" she inquired politely.
"Seems like a decent neighborhood, a few early morning joggers and some walking their dogs, no speeding," Rex commented polightly, adding, "thanks for the breakfast." She knew she didn't have to do it, but it was like they were her living partners of sorts for the time being. Especially now when Finn was living in Hartford and Logan, currently in Vienna on a business trip.
"Finn should be bringing my over daughter soon," she informed Rex, so he'd know who to expect, as she was about to return indoors.
Leah had been up that night at 3 AM for two hours straight for apparently no good reason, resulting in the fact that she'd dozed off in the car on the way over. Finn was tired, but he felt he could still drive safely, somehow actually enjoying the drive without having to put on a kids playlist or entertain her, giving him a moment to hear his own thoughts, which was becoming rarer as she grew.
Logan's thank you message the week before had caught him off guard. He'd been his friend for a long time and as he really hadn't done much more than exist for Rory to return to him, and Finn felt it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep hating him. Sure he envied him, but that was not enough to make him hate Logan.
Rex waved him in, and he carried the sleeping Leah on his shoulder into the house, putting her down on the sofa gently.
"She woke at 3 AM," he said, speaking in a low voice.
"Okay, that explains it," she replied, keeping her voice down too.
"Pretty cool place you've got here," he commented walking through the first floor and peeking into the study.
"I know, it feels a lot more homey now than the stuff is here," she described. An entire wall in the living room was currently just stacked up in book boxes. "You want something to drink, just made a fresh pot of coffee," she asked.
"Sure, why not," he replied.
"Listen, I actually wanted to pick your brain about," she asked, pouring out two cups of coffee.
"Go ahead," he added.
"Logan was actually wondering how you'd feel about him getting to know Leah better," she explained carefully, adding, "I told him to talk to you directly, but I just wanted to know myself too."
"I mean he's a decent guy, I know it is not in his intentions to hurt her, so I don't really think there is much I can say to stop him. I just hope it doesn't cut into my time with her and when it comes to any big decisions, I think it is fair that I'm the first person for that discussion," he explained, having thought about it before.
"Thank you, Finn. I really hope you guys can someday be friends again," she replied, handing him the coffee and taking a seat opposite to him. She knew how tight they guys had been, their history being even longer than her history with Logan.
"I am getting the house. It's vacant so I should be in there in no time," he announced, changing the subject.
"That was fast," she commented, adding, "But it's good, you deserve it."
"And also, I should tell you that I'm starting to date a bit, on my days without Leah of course," he explained, a little awkwardly.
"You never really got a lot of practice at that," she laughed, friendlily.
"Indeed, I'll try to keep the boys locked up a bit better so I'd actually get to have more than a few dates before we start decorating the nursery," he laughed.
The air between them was no longer uneasy, it was as if both of them now realized their position in each-others lives - permanent and cordial with a dash of laughing at their own expense.
As Finn returned to his apartment that day, mentally getting ready to begin to pack his belongings. After a quick hesitation, he pulled out his phone and typed: "Hi mates, how about drinks at my new house this weekend?" sending it to Colin, Robert and Logan.
"How very pioneer of you, Finn," Robert noted, as he stepped into his new nearly completely unfurnished Colonial.
"How are you mate?" he greeted in reply.
"You wouldn't believe the princess room upstairs, I swear Finn here plans to keep that all to himself," Colin laughed having already taken a tour of the place.
There was a knock on the door, and Finn opened it without a delay.
"Hey, Logan," he greeted, while Colin's eyes widened. Robert was pouring himself a drink, not paying much attention.
"It's been a while, thanks for inviting me," Logan replied with a nod, handing Finn a large bottle of Stroh, adding "Greetings from Vienna," with a smirk.
"Are you trying to get me drunk and have your way with me?" Finn replied, jokingly, accepting the rum.
Colin observed that dynamic with some reservations, not really sure what he was seeing. Hadn't Finn just had trust issued with Logan?
"Logan, I thought you'd dropped off the face of the earth or something," Robert said, acting oblivious to the events of the past year and half.
"Well I am here, aren't I," Logan replied, while Finn poured each of them a drink.
"So where are we going to sit?" Colin asked, looking around confusedly.
"Just wait a minute," Finn began, stepping outside to his car and opening his trunk, "here, each bring their own," handing them each a chair, adding, "there's a table in the dining room, we just need to attach the legs first."
"Nice place you got here," Logan commented as they walked back indoors.
An assembled table and a bottle of rum later, the four had fallen back to their familiar banter, as if no time had passed.
"This is just like Finn's birthdays used to be - lots of booze, no food whatsoever," Robert noted hungrily.
"Already ordered pizzas, 5 minutes out," Colin laughed, adding "what did you expect?"
As Robert and Colin went out to wait for the pizzas, their stomachs growling noticeably, Finn poured Logan another drink.
"Thank you for inviting me, for real. I really missed this," Logan said, taking a sip.
"I should've known that I was not going to be able to compete with you, Logan. There was just too much history there, and we were too fresh and dropped into the role of parents too soon," he said straightforwardly, sounding a little defeated.
"I am sorry, I know it hasn't been easy," he replied.
"But I suppose I should be grateful you took your detour with Odette, I wouldn't have Leah otherwise," Finn contemplated.
"Listen, I needed to talk to you about Leah actually," he began. "I intend on sticking around and I think I should really try to be around her more, get to know her a little better. I want to spend as much time around Rory and she's a package deal," he explained.
"She mentioned something, indeed," Finn relied, taking a sip. "Sure I'd like to be able to say Leah's all mine and I want to keep it that way, and that certainly would've been a hell of a lot easier if I was still with Rory. But I cannot expect her to never have a guy around, and frankly the fact that it is you, makes it so much easier for me," he said, swirling his drink around in the glass.
"So we're good?" Logan asked.
"I'm not saying there aren't any hurt feelings but I think we are getting there," Finn said, gulping down his drink.
Rory's week had flown by unpacking, shopping for the few missing essentials, reluctantly donating some of the books she realized she had more than one of and playing with Leah. She'd given Lauren the week off before she began working and increasing Lauren's workload. On Sunday evening after Finn had picked Leah up again, she finally got around to her inbox properly. Her introductory materials from the HPG already waited there, and a letter from her new boss welcoming her and inviting her to the office the next week to meet in person. Attached she also found her first assigned manuscript which meant she had reading to do.
She was, however, interrupted by a phone call.
"Hi Logan," she answered.
"Hi, Ace, you busy?" he asked hopefully.
"Not particularly," she replied, hearing the doorbell.
"Wait a sec, there's someone at the door," she said walking over to the front door.
"Logan, I thought you were still in Vienna," she exclaimed as she opened the door, and disconnected the call.
"Got back a little early. Actually spent last night in Hartford with Finn and the guys," he explained, stepping in.
"That sure explains why Finn was yawning when he picked up Leah," she commented.
"That would be it," he added.
"So welcome to the new house, I have been thinking it needs a name, but I haven't thought of anything yet," she said curiously.
"Looks like you already," he commented looking at all the books. He walked around, taking a look out the window to the back yard. He was a little quiet, making Rory worry slightly. She gave him a out with it look, raising her eyebrows.
"Rory, are we okay? I mean after the whole press incident," he asked, shifting the topic.
"We are," she replied, unsure where this was coming from.
"It didn't make you doubt?" he inquired, feeling a little insecure. He knew he too was a package deal with his family, his work and his money which frankly were more trouble than pleasure.
"Well it wasn't pleasant but I guess I need to get used to it in some extent. I mean, unless you somehow figure out how to become unattractive, unsuccessful and change your name at the same time, I doubt they are going to forget about you altogether," she said jokingly. "And the car out front did help, though now it really feels excess," she added thankfully.
"I just saw you get all tense," he added, "and then in New York you asked me if it was always going to be like this and it got me worried."
"I did think about a lot of things. But now I think maybe we do need to push ourselves a little - maybe we shouldn't just accept that it'll have to be long distance." she said. "I want this to be your home too. I don't know whether it can be actually called moving in, when you'll spend part time in New York, but I feel like I want to share this with you. I don't want it to be just mine and Leah's," Rory added.
"Ace, god, I love you, of course I want to share this with you. I can actually do you one better - I can probably try to fix my schedule so that I can work from home a few days a week." he replied smilingly.
"I'm glad," she said, almost feeling teary eyed. "I missed you," she added, wrapping her hands around him.
"I did too, travelling doesn't have that appeal to me it did once, all I keep thinking is how I'd rather be here with you," he said.
"Almost forgot, I actually got you something, Ace," he said, taking a step back and pulled out a long jewelry box from his leather messenger bag.
"Logan, you didn't have to," she gasped, opening it. It held a set of white gold earrings and a matching topaz pendant.
"I know I didn't have to, I wanted to, the blue is just like your eyes," he said, moving behind her to attach the necklace.
"I love you, Logan," she said and kissed him.
AN: Somehow I haven't felt like writing conflict the last few chapters. I felt like the characters just needed to relax for a moment. But this is not the end. A couple of busy days ahead, I hope to return shortly. :)