"Hey, little brother," Honor approached Rory and Logan in the front hall of the Huntzberger mansion, having arrived just a few minutes earlier. Josh and the kids had already headed to the playroom, to keep the guys occupied during cocktail hour - a task he had grown to love each time he was obligated to attend a dinner party in this house. He had had years to get used to this, and still he found it one of the most uncomfortable things to do. That was the price that came with falling in love with Honor Huntzberger. Rory was beginning to understand him. She'd begun getting ready for the dinner in question way too early, unable to focus on her writing, leaving her watching the clock tick for nearly an hour while she waited for Logan to arrive from picking up the presents he'd purchased. It was safe to say she was anxious. She'd dressed up, and to Logan she hardly looked like herself at all, wearing her new dark red fit-and-flare, which made it almost possible to hide her growing bump. Her hair was tied up in a sleek bun, her makeup was minimal, cold tones and with Merlot matte lip-ink. This was the first time in her life she dreaded Christmas.
"Hey, sis," he greeted, handing the tote bag of presents to the maid. He felt a little silly bringing gifts, as if actually expecting to stay that long. Then again, if they did, it would've been strange not to bring anything.
"Rory, you look great," she continued, giving her a hug.
"Logan, is there something you want to tell me before we go in there? I'd like to know how big of a scene to anticipate so I know whether or not to keep the kids in the playroom," Honor asked. The moment she'd heard Logan was bringing Rory along to their parents, she had known, something was up. This was a house people walked in voluntarily.
Logan glanced at Rory, hesitantly. Honor was the person he had really wanted to tell the news, yet he could already imagine her reaction. It usually was a loud one. "I'd keep the kids in the playroom," he replied simply.
Honor looked over the two, checking Rory's hand for a ring, trying to guess what this was about. Taking a step back she noticed it.
"Rory, you're not...?" she began, placing her hand hastily over her mouth, before hugging Rory once again hastily.
Rory nodded briefly.
It was clear Honor was happy about the news and realized the need to stay quiet for the time being.
"Come on, sis, keep it together," Logan said, adding "let's get this over with."
Honor braced his arm in assurance, leading the two of them into the living room.
Shira sat already in her armchair, swirling her vodka tonic. Rory hadn't seen her in a while, and while she'd stayed true to her style of glitter and light colors, however her face clearly showed the tens of thousands she'd put into it. She was human after all, Rory thought.
"So glad you could make it," Shira greeted, sounding a little annoyed by their delay in the front hall.
"Mom," Logan nodded.
"Hi," Rory added politely. She really wasn't sure how she was supposed to act around them - she knew they didn't like her, but acting either oblivious or defensive seemed a bit much either way.
"Would you like something to drink?" the maid asked politely, as they took their seats.
"I'll have a Martini," Honor said, already wiggling uncomfortably in her seat.
"I'll get it," Logan offered, avoiding Rory having to reply, dismissing the maid.
"Where's dad?" Logan asked, walking over to the drink cart.
Before Shira could reply, Mitchum walked in from the hallway leading up to his study.
"Welcome everyone, I trust Josh and the kids are around somewhere," Mitchum said.
"Josh is just keeping them busy. They just have too much energy today to be around the Faberge collection," Honor replied, referring to Shira's pride and joy placed prominently on one of the display tables. She certainly knew how to get on her mother's good side.
"So Logan, how's Yale University Press treating you?" he asked, joining Logan at the drink cart and pouring himself a scotch.
"They're treating me quite well actually, I am quite enjoying it," he replied, returning with Honor's drink and Rory's club soda. While he could've used one himself, he wanted to stay clear headed in this case.
"It's small potatoes surely," he jeered, adding "but I remember Barney used to be quite the shark."
"Well I am sure he still is, he isn't dead yet," Logan added. He wasn't truly surprised his father knew his predecessor. He knew most people in this business, if not personally than by name and reputation. This was also one of the reasons he hoped this wouldn't turn out into a word-fight. While he had realized he was able to make a living independently, getting under his fury was something he preferred to avoid. Leaving the HPG was one thing, being slandered by his own father quite another. And now he needed to be able to make a living for his family. While he knew that he always had some options, this was not the ideal time for entrepreneurship in a new field that it probably would require.
"And Rory, haven't seen you since April. Have you been working on anything interesting? Still working I assume," Mitchum inquired.
"I am actually," she replied proudly. She didn't even need to lie. "I'm writing a book actually and I am also working for Morgan & Pence," she added.
"Can't wait to hear more about the book, you must tell me more about it sometime. Are you working with anyone I know?" he asked, curiously.
"I'm in negotiations with a few places right now, nothing's been decided yet," she lied. She hadn't heard back from any of the places yet.
"Listen, we actually have a little announcement while we're here," he stated after clearing his voice. He hadn't really planned on doing this that soon, hoping to perhaps actually get to dinner and the presents before, but he realized he would just be torturing themselves doing that. Even small talk was a minefield.
"Let's hear it then," Mitchum encouraged, waiting expectantly . He'd figured they'd be announcing something, why else would Logan have insisted bringing her.
Logan placed his hand on Rory's shoulder glancing one final look at her and replied, "We're expecting a baby."
"What?" Shira screeched, and placed her glass shakily on the side table and raised to her feet.
"What did you expect, Shira?" Mitchum commented, glancing over to his wife.
Shira paced nervously in front of the mantlepiece. "Logan, seriously, first you break off the engagement of the decade and now this?" Shira wailed.
"Sorry mom, but this is just the way it is," Logan added. Her mother would just have to accept it.
"So what next, Logan? What is your great plan?" Mitchum asked after a few seconds, adding, "or should I be asking Rory that?"
Rory looked at Logan sceptically, for a moment she had no idea what he was talking about.
"We plan to continue doing exactly what I have been doing now - living our lives. We just thought you should know," Logan replied.
"So you're not planning to get married?" he asked, sounding a little surprised.
"We get married when we get married, but we don't have any immediate plans," he replied, then looking at Rory to see how she agreed to that statement.
Even Honor looked a little shocked to hear that.
"And Rory, you are fine with this?" Mitchum inquired.
Now it hit her. Mitchum seriously thought she had done all of this on purpose and aimed to trick Logan into marrying him. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?" she asked, almost bursting out a laugh at the end.
Mitchum stood, walked over to the window, glancing into the darkness.
"Logan, you can't be serious?" Shira huffed. "What will people think?" she added.
"I don't think it is really people's business. It's the 2016, for god's sake," Logan commented.
"Huntzbergers don't have illegitimate children," Shira noted.
"Not publicly," Logan corrected, scornfully. "But don't get me wrong, I have no intention of hiding Rory or the baby," he added.
"So it is about money?" Mitchum asked Rory. "You're career crumbles, you decide to cash in on what you can?" he added.
"No, if I needed money there'd be a lot easier ways to get it than to get pregnant and deal with you," Rory replied sharply. She'd expected that question sooner or later. She had been brought up with a lot less than she had now, but she did realize that if she really needed it there were Christopher and Emily who would be willing to help. However, she doubted denying this would really register with the Huntzbergers.
"She has a point there," Honor commented carefully, recalling her own pregnancies.
"I think what Rory means to clarify is that there was no planning behind any of this. I begged her to give us another try and unknowingly we'd already conceived a baby. Now we are here being polite, telling you like normal people that you're getting a grandchild, instead of hiding it," Logan explained, trying to keep his cool.
"Okay, so you realize that at the very least you need to get a paternity test, and make sure you talk to a lawyer," Mitchum demanded.
"Dad!" Logan scolded.
"Fine, I'll do the test, I have nothing to hide," Rory spoke up. This was a no brainer. There was no point in arguing over something that could've been so easily resolved. A simple blood test and done.
"For what it's worth, I think it's great news," Honor said carefully, glancing apologetically at her parents. "Logan looks happy, don't you want him to be happy?" she tried.
Shira took her drink and walked out of the room. Mitchum remained sceptical, yet he didn't say anything else, drinking his scotch. Logan figured Mitchum was only done for the time being. This was his pattern - lash out, think and strategize, then go for the second round. Logan could already see Rory's shoulders relax a little, but he knew better. This was not over.
A few awkward minutes of silence later, the maid announced dinner was being served in the adjacent room.
As they walked over to the dining room a few awkward minutes later, Honor asked excitedly, "A boy or a girl?"
"It's a surprise. They couldn't tell," Rory replied.
"Intriguing," she commented. "We must go shopping together, I know this adorable baby boutique," she added smilingly.
"What did I miss?" Josh asked as he and the kids joined them at the dinner table. Honor whispered to him the short version.
"Congratulations," he mouthed across the table to Rory and Logan, who met it with a smile, just before Mitchum and Shira joined the table.
Dinner passed uneventfully, yet tension lingered in the air. Shira didn't say much while Honor took the lead in the discussion. There was always something for her to talk about - her work, her kids or her household. Having the kids at the dinner table kept the mood civil.
After dinner Rory excused herself to the bathroom. As she returned, she walked into Mitchum just as she was stepping back into the living room.
"Rory, can I talk to you privately?" Mitchum asked.
"Dad, if you have something to say, you can say it to both of us," Logan said, having overheard.
"Logan, it's fine," Rory replied. She could do this.
"Are you sure, Ace?" Logan hesitated.
She nodded.
"Well alright then, join me in the study will you?" Mitchum said as he gestured down the hall.
Rory followed Mitchum through the double doors of his study, leaving Logan pacing nervously. He finally yielded and poured himself a drink.
"So Rory," he began, taking a seat at his desk, after gesturing towards one of the chairs opposite him. "I just wanted to tell you my side in this," he said, sounding actually genuine.
"I still don't agree, that you are quite cut out to be that kind of woman that Logan would require by his side. You're not the classical corporate wife for sure," Mitchum continued.
"So I've understood," Rory noted, raising her chin a little.
"But the situation is what it is, I've spent enough time trying to convince him otherwise," he relented.
Rory had not expected to hear that.
"But you need to understand what you are wrapping yourself and your baby into so you can decide if this is what you really want to do. Alternatively we could work out another suitable solution for the both of us," he added. This was good old Mitchum after all.
"I don't…," she began, trying to stop where this was going.
"Just hear me out, you're a smart woman," he interrupted her.
"I am sure Logan told you that ideally I'd like him to return to HPG one day, and frankly I'd like him to do it rather sooner than later. This would mean him returning to London and you will need to figure out whether you can handle it, whichever way you do it. Alternatively you could just stay back home, we'd set you up with a decent job, house, trust fund for the kid. You'd be set, Logan could do what is required to keep the business flourishing," Mitchum explained.
"Don't you think Logan should be the one making this decision?" she asked.
"They say behind every great man there is a great woman, and you've certainly proved to be more than just some piece of arm candy in that sense," he said.
She didn't like the flattery, it sounded fake.
"It's your heart, isn't it?" Rory asked boldly.
"That is not important here," he said after a pregnant pause. He was surprised she knew about that. Logan had heard him talking to his doctor once and he'd seen him swallowing pills, but he hadn't told him more than that.
"Why else would you be in such a hurry?" she continued.
"Fine, but I don't want Logan or the others to know about this," he hissed.
"What if Logan doesn't go to London? What if he doesn't want to?" she inquired.
"Oh I am sure deep down he wants to. Come on, you can't really imagine him at Yale University Press and lecturing permanently, can you? He's more capable than that, he'll never live up to his true potential there," he assumed. "He'll be bored in less than a year," Mitchum added., considering if he should add 'and bored with you' but hesitated.
"Humor me, what if he doesn't?" she pushed.
"Well then he'd really be on his own, wouldn't he? But that'd be something for Logan and I to discuss," Michum replied.
"So how soon are we talking about?" she inquired.
"In 3-4 months," he answered.
"So you really expect me to just go back out there, not tell him about any of this and figure out what I want to do?" Rory asked. She couldn't figure out why in the world she would keep this information from Logan.
"It really does come down to how much you really love him, doesn't it?" he said.
AN: Encountered a bit of a writer's block this morning, huh, this story is not the easiest to write. Reviews and thoughts are very welcome. What do you think she'll do?