Rory had had a busy August and beginning of September. She had tried to finish her job assignment before she started at Yale but, the delay with setting up a meeting with Owen had derailed that plan. Due to this, Finn, Lorelai and Lauren had handled most of Leah's logistics, and Rory hadn't even been to Finn's new house.
"Leah, let's have a look where daddy is?" she asked, lifting her up from her carseat.
"Ain't those my two favourite ladies?" Finn said, opening his front door for them.
"Hi Finn!" Rory said, adding, "the place looks great," stepping in.
Finn had certainly picked a capable decorator and paid generously. The place looked like a cut out from an interior design magazine, filled with the era's furniture and accessories with a few modern touches. Even the two white rocking chairs on the front porch looked eerily authentic. Leah was already used to the place, and Finn had gracefully factored in any age appropriate potential damage to his new house.
"It suits you," Rory said after five minutes.
"I never really considered these houses but once I saw this, I knew it was for me." he agreed, offering Rory a bottle of Perrier from the fridge, while Leah played at her activity table.
"How have you been?" she asked, adding apologetically, "It's been a little hectic on my side."
"Nothing major, steady and quiet. Hung out with Colin just a couple of days ago, been dating a little," he replied.
"Anybody significant in the picture?" Rory inquired, not really sure if she had any right to ask at this point.
"No, it's been disappointing frankly," Finn replied sadly.
"Sorry to hear that," she consoled, kneeling down by Leah to give her a hand with one of her toys.
"I'm just glad I have her," he gestured towards Leah.
Rory smiled, she knew what he meant. Even if all else failed, they had her.
Logan arrived in New Haven ten past nine, tired from his day and the long drive.
"I think I'm going to hire a driver for these trips," he said with a sigh. While it wasn't that far, it was still time he could've spent working instead of driving, like his father had done for years by turning the back seat of his car into an office.
"Sure, a driver won't draw any unnecessary looks," Rory said feeling self-conscious about showing off to the neighbours. They lived a very modest and casual lifestyle at their new home, other than the constant flow of take-away Rory had already grown up with and the slightly upper class Lexus Logan drove, there was no shout-out indication of their wealth. In that sense that neighbourhood was ideal for laying low and not drawing too much attention.
"It's not like he'll be waiting around, it'll be like a slightly fancier cab basically," he stated.
"Do what you think is necessary," Rory said, walking over from the kitchen with two glasses of Shiraz, and giving him a kiss while he sat spread out on the couch. "I want you happy and relaxed when you get home," she added.
"God, I missed you, Ace," he said, pulling her onto the couch over the couch back.
"Logan," she said, narrowing her eyes with a smirk, as she spilled some of the wine on the floor.
"I'll get it," Logan said apologetically, moving her aside to go grab a rag.
"How did it go at school?" he asked, returning from the kitchn.
"Fine, feel like a bit of a senior, but I'll survive," she noted.
"Well life experience got to count for something," he commented, clearing the spill.
"Got to see Finn's place today, it looks pretty cool," she added casually, taking a sip of wine.
"The place had great potential," he added, only picturing in his mind what he recalled from it. "You know what else has great potential?" he inquired smugly.
"What?" she asked.
"You with less clothes on," Logan said, kissing her gently.
The two wine glasses, one barely touched, transferred to the coffee table, as their hands became otherwise occupied. She tugged his lip, teasingly, while her hands stroke his arms, and his fingers already traced her bare skin under her top, finding her firm nipples. She kissed him more fiercely now, having craved having him deep between her legs for several days. He pulled up her skirt taking a moment to appreciate the teal lace underneath, before kissing her lower abdomen and pulling her panties off. His tongue teased her, as she arched her back in response, begging for more. While he continued, he'd slid off his pants skillfully without losing contact. Rory's hand caressed his hair and neck, gently guiding him in the right place with just the right intensity. As he finally shoved himself deep, feeling utterly at home, and she gasped at the fulfillment of her yearning.
The two lay nude on the couch, still panting, until Logan sat up and gulped down his wine with thirst. He was no longer able to imagine wanting anyone as much as he wanted her, and any memories of his past conquests had been obliterated from his mind. It was only her he needed.
"Rory, god, you are spectacular, you know that?" he sighed, glancing a meaningful look towards her.
"You are, too," she said, pushing her naked body against his back and placing her arms around him and asserting her face on his shoulder, taking in another deep breath of this scent.
He knew they needed to have the talk, making him sigh in fear of destroying that perfect moment of intimacy.
"What is it?" Rory asked, feeling something was up.
"I'm sorry. But I need to know something," he began.
Rory drew back, looking for her top, suddenly feeling too bare for the seriousness of this conversation, and pulling it back on.
"Ace, don't panic," he said, seeing from her face that her mind was already going through all possible scenarios for a serious talk. He knew that she probably knew too where this was headed.
She sighed, sitting down next to him, trying not to run.
"I need to know if we're ever going to be more than we are now," he asked hesitantly, leaving it a little vague. She turned down his proposal once before, and that was something he hoped to avoid the second time around. If she took the question as the one about having kids, it worked too.
"You mean like, where are we headed?" she reflected, leaning on to his shoulder for support.
"Honestly Rory, I would marry you one the spot, if you agreed to. I'd love you regardless if we ever had our own kids or not. Neither of those things has to happen soon, but I'd like to know if there is a chance," he said.
"I am not saying 'no', Logan. But I know I am not ready yet. The memory of those first few months with Leah is still too fresh, and while I might recognize it sooner this time and know what to do, it's not something to look forward to. I know it all might be all different, better, next time, but I am scared to find out," she sighed, running her fingers through her hair, her voice a little shaky.
"And that is fine, you have the right to feel however you are feeling. Please don't take it like I am pushing you, I don't want that. There is time, and I am not going anywhere," he added, taking her hand.
"As for marriage," she began, "I wouldn't turn you down this time. I'd rather hang myself that inflict that pain again on you," she added. "But don't get me wrong, that wouldn't be the reason for agreeing. I would agree to it because there is not going to be anyone else, you are it for me," Rory said confidently.
"Does a cowardly hypothetical question and a hypothetical response equal the need to bring out the champaign?" he asked with a smirk. They'd done the public proposal, they no longer needed the act of proposing. They were just there, the two of them, in sync.
"I think it does," she smiled in return, sounding surprised how that conversation had turned out.
"But Logan, do you mind if we keep this to ourselves for a while. I wouldn't want Shira to begin thinking she put the idea in our heads," Rory added.
"Not a problem. I know. That's all I need for now. I love you, Ace," he said.
"I love you," Rory said.