Thanksgiving arrived and both Rory and Logan were reluctant to leave the bubble they had created throughout the time off school. They both knew that eventually they would have to tell the families about their relationship, and they had decided it was best to do it before the holiday's were in full force since there would be parties and events they would be expected at. Rory was to arrange a dinner the following Friday and he would arrange one for the Saturday after and while they were both happy to finally be able to get the relationship fully in the open, they both were still worried about familial pressure.
Thanksgiving arrived and Logan stood in front of the Huntzberger mansion dreading going into the house. His father had promised him that it would just be the family, but he was still apprehensive that his mother would arrange a potential date for the evening. Before he had a chance to press the doorbell the door flew open and Honor greeted him.
"You have a problem baby brother," she whispered as she pulled him into the house. "Mom invited the Fallon's and dad it pissed, I guess he promised you it would just be the family…"
Logan groaned and ran his hand through his hair. "I was dreading this."
"When are you going to… you know?" she questioned as he handed his coat to the maid.
"I am to arrange a dinner for next Saturday, I was hoping you would be able to come…" he asked pleadingly.
"I must love you," she sighed dramatically. "Two meals in two weeks…"
"I'll owe you one," he promised as she linked arms with him.
"I'll remember that," she said with a giggle as they walked into the parlor.
"Oh, Logan there you are!" Shira exclaimed as soon as she noticed him. "You remember Thomas and Caroline Fallon, and of course you know their daughter Marissa."
"Its nice to see you again, Mr. and Mrs. Fallon, Marissa nice to meet you," he quickly greeted not giving the overly fake blonde a second glance. He walked over towards his mother and placed a kiss on her cheek and then greeted his father, grandfather and Honor's boyfriend Josh before he went to the bar and got himself a drink.
"Logan," Shira started giving him a glare. "Of course, you remember Marissa, you have been to many events together."
"We have?" Logan asked with a fake look of thought. "I'll take your word for it mother."
Shira quickly tried to fix the situation. "Marissa was just talking about going to the city for the weekend, I know you had been talking about going to New York so I told her that you would love to show her around," Shira stated to speak as he sat down.
"I was just in the city the beginning of October," Logan replied. "I surprised my girlfriend with a trip for her birthday. And for this weekend, I have plans."
He noticed the crestfallen look on Marissa's face and Shira and Caroline exchanged looks. "Your father mentioned that you were possibly seeing someone, but it can't be all that serious…"
"It has been almost four months of us exclusively dating," Logan stated and took a sip of his drink and from the corner of his eye his saw his father give his mother a pointed look.
"Well, you have just never…" Shira started but was cut off by Mitchum.
"Logan, I have seen a few of your articles this year," he stated as he studied his son. "Its good to see you with some bylines."
Logan nodded and studied his father, waiting for the criticism but when none came, he let out a breath he had been holding. "Thank you, dad. I promised you some articles."
"Is Doyle still the editor?" Mitchum questioned trying to keep the conversation off of Logan and who he was dating. He had been able to keep Shira away from her matchmaking attempts and he wasn't happy with her for inviting the Fallon's for Thanksgiving. If Logan was dating Rory that was something he didn't want to derail.
Logan let out a small chuckle, "yes he is. And he is still trying to suck up and every chance."
Mitchum and Elias both heard the slight bitterness in his words. "How about the other writers?" Elias asked. "I heard that Geller has harassed a few religious leaders in the area."
At that Logan let out a genuine laugh. "That she has. I think there were some threats of restraining orders, she is an interesting person. The others on the paper aren't nearly as bad and most seem to be too intimidated to talk to me."
Before anyone could say anything, else dinner was served, and the group made their way to the dining room. Marissa spent the meal flirting with Logan, casually trying to brush his arm and at one point placed her hand high on his thigh which caused him to shoot her a nasty glare as he quickly grabbed her hand and made a comment that she should really learn to keep her hands to herself in a voice loud enough for those next to them to hear. Shira and Caroline spent the majority of the meal trying to get Logan to see what a good match Marissa would be, and he spent the meal talking to his father, grandfather, Honor and Josh. At one-point Thomas whispered something in his wife's ear after the groping attempt and the woman had quit with her matchmaking attempts.
As soon as the meal was over, Logan asked to speak with Mitchum in the study and Elias joined them. The doors had barely closed and Mitchum noticed the look on Logan's face so quickly started talking. "I knew nothing about the Fallon's being here until they showed up. I already talked to your mother and let her know how unhappy I am with her actions."
Logan sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Are you all available for dinner next Saturday? We have decided that it is time to meet the family's and with the holidays coming up we know there will be events and expectations."
Mitchum and Elias both studied him for a moment before Mitchum spoke. "I'll make sure it happens and your mother does not try and stunts."
The easy concision, immediately trying to placate him with the Fallon's appearance had put Logan on guard. "Why are you taking this so well?" he asked. "Its not like you to push for information, or demand answers. For the most part you seem to be handling my dating someone better than I expected."
"We just want you to be happy…" Mitchum started to say.
"Cut the bullshit dad," he stated cutting his father off. "There is always an ulterior motive with you. What do you think you know?"
"I don't know anything more than you have told us son," Mitchum replied with a smirk. "But we will see you next Saturday at six?"
"Fine dad," Logan sighed. He said his good nights to his family and the Fallon's, completely ignoring Marissa, and headed back to the apartment.
Rory sighed as she rang the doorbell to the Gilmore home. Since her birthday the matchmaking attempts had stopped but she didn't have high hopes for the evening. It made her feel slightly better knowing that next week she and Logan would be going public to the families. The door was opened almost immediately, and she handed off her jacket and purse before being greeted by Richard who was walking out of the study.
"Rory," he stated with a big smile and she immediately embraced him.
"Hi Grandpa," she replied. "How have you been?" she asked as he led her towards the parlor.
"Good, busy," he replied with a chuckle. "It seems the insurance world never sleeps. How is everything at Yale?"
"Good, busy," she replied with a giggle as they walked into the parlor and she greeted Emily, Francine, Straub and Chris before taking her seat. "I wanted to see if you all would be available next Friday evening for dinner, either here, the Hayden's or my apartment. I think it is time that I introduce you to my boyfriend."
"So, you are still seeing him?" Francine asked studying her granddaughter.
"Yes, I am," Rory replied in a slightly exasperated tone. "I know you all want to know who he is and you will meet him next week, we are planning on meeting with his family on Saturday."
"Rory we are just worried," Emily sighed. "Your such a pretty young woman… and what about Tristan?"
"What about Tristan?" Rory questioned an angry edge to her voice.
"Well, you two were such a charming couple," Emily replied. "You just broke up with him and he was devasted."
Rory let out a scoff at the statement. "He knows exactly why we broke up," she retorted in a cold voice.
"I ran into Janlon a few days ago and he told me that Tristan would be in town for Christmas and might transfer to Yale," Emily continued. "I told Janlon that you would be thrilled to show Tristan around and escort him to the Christmas gala."
"No," Rory firmly replied. "I will not show Tristan around Yale and there is no way I am going anywhere with him!"
"But Rory…" Emily pressed but was interrupted by Richard.
"Now Emily, we promised Rory we would give her young man a chance," Richard stated, giving his wife a stern look.
"How do we know this boy is appropriate," Emily retorted. "She won't tell us anything about him."
"You will meet him next weekend," Rory replied quickly losing her temper.
"Rory you must see that we are just trying to look out for you," Francine stated trying to reason with her granddaughter. "You and Tristan would make such an amazing power…"
"He cheated on me!" Rory yelled. "I was a conquest to him, and he kept trying to push me to sleep with him and when I wouldn't he found someone else. I walked in Tristan fucking another girl in the bathroom of a party he took me to! That is why we broke up!"
"Are you sure it wasn't…" Emily started to say but was cut off by Rory.
"You can't exactly hide his pants down around his ankles and her legs wrapped around his waist," she bitterly replied. "So yes, I am sure it wasn't a misunderstanding. And don't even try the boys will be boys excuse yet. It will not work and there is nothing you can say or do to try and convince me to see him again."
"Rory why didn't you tell us?" Straub gently asked.
"You all loved him," she replied. "You all loved him, and Emily acted like I must have done something to cause the break-up and I was embarrassed. I should have never dated him, but I gave into you all talking about me needed to date someone acceptable. All of the dates you have ever tried to set me up on have all been the same, they all want a crack at the ice princess, to see if they can thaw her," she told them her tone bitter. "I finally met someone who is interested in me, just Rory, and you are still trying to push me. You don't even know him, and you still judge him. This is why I didn't want to introduce you all to him until I was ready. If he was a normal guy, like I am sure you are assuming, then he would never be good enough and if he was someone from society you would have the wedding date set before we walked out of the room!"
"Rory," Richard stated trying to calm her. "I know we promised to stop the matchmaking and I for one am glad you are ready to introduce us to your beau."
She sighed and took a few deep breaths before focusing on Emily. "I have tried to be everything you have wanted me to be for years," she stated her voice tired. "I have tried to make up for everything my mother did wrong, and I am tired of feeling like it will never be enough for you. I am tired of trying to prove to you that I am different when the differences are obvious."
"Rory, I never tried," Emily started to say but paused. "You just have so much potential. I just don't want you lead down the wrong path."
"It is my path to take," Rory firmly replied. "I have to live for myself and stop trying to do everything to please you."
"Kiddo," Christopher sighed. "I am sorry you feel that way. I never want you to be anything other than yourself and I am excited to meet the boyfriend. How about we do dinner at my place," he stated but seeing the look on Francine's face he quickly corrected, "at my parents place."
Rory studied the elder Hayden's before nodding, "that sounds perfect, will 6:30 work? I have a late class on Friday's."
"Yes Rory," Francine quickly agreed and gave Emily a hard look. "Is there any allergies or food considerations that I need to know about."
"No grandma," she sighed and gave a small smile. "Whatever Louisa cooks is always amazing."
Dinner was served shortly after the conversation paused and the group talked about Rory's classes and the articles that she had written, it seemed everyone avoided the topic of Rory's relationship. The meal was thankfully over quickly but before Rory could take her leave Richard asked her to join him in the study.
"Rory about what happened before dinner," he stated as soon as the study's doors were closed. "Your grandmother is just trying to look out for you."
"I understand that is what she thinks but that is not how it comes across," Rory sighed. "I know I may look like my mother and we have some of the same mannerisms, but I am not Lorelai and I don't know how else to show her that. I am tired of trying grandpa," she stated as her eyes filled slightly with tears. "I know she didn't have a good relationship with mom, I didn't even have a good relationship with her when she died… but I have tried to be what this family has asked of me but I can't keep doing this."
"I'll talk to her," Richard stated and studied his granddaughter before speaking again. "Are you dating Logan Huntzberger?" he asked, and he saw the shock cross his granddaughters face and it answered his question. "Mitchum and I assumed after we saw you together at your birthday party. You are aware of his reputation?"
She sighed and leaned slightly back into the chair she was sitting in. "I met him at a cafe in Paris, he came up to me and we started talking. He didn't know who I was when we first met, and I didn't know who he was. I got to know him grandpa, he isn't like everyone says, he is sweet, kind and caring, he takes care of me and makes me feel safe."
"Okay, I trust your judgment," he replied with a nod. "I will talk to Emily; I will not tell her who you are dating but I will talk to her and convince her to keep an open mind."
"Thank you," she replied with a relieved tone. The two left the study and Rory said her good-byes before heading back to Yale.
She made it back to her apartment and was greeted by soft music playing and candles were lit, the sight brought a smile to her face. Logan walked towards her and saw the stress and defeat in her demeanor and pulled her towards him. "It looks like your night was just as bad as mine," he murmured.
"It was horrible," she whispered as she looked at him.
"How about we get the stories out of the way and then we can help each other forget and relax?" he asked studying her eyes.
"Okay," she breathed out and he led her to the couch where two glasses of wine waited for them. "Can I go first?" she asked and after he nodded yes, she took a deep breath. "Before I tell you about dinner, I need to tell you everything about Tristan," she stated and saw him tense slightly so she took his hand. "He wasn't there but he plays into the confrontation," she stated and when he slightly relaxed she started to tell him the reason they broke up, how he pushed her to have sex and when she refused he found it from someone else and then told him about how she walked in on him and another girl. She could see the anger radiating off of him so she moved closer to him. "I don't talk about it because it is embarrassing," she stated with a slight shrug. "Its part of the reason why I am so afraid that I wont be enough for you."
"Oh Ace," he whispered as he pulled her to him and rubbed comforting circles along her back. "You are amazing," he stated, "and Tristan is a jackass. At least he doesn't go to Yale…" he trailed off when he felt her tense. "So I think you need to finish the story."
She took a deep breath before she started telling him about how Tristan might transfer and Emily offered her services as a tour guide and escort to the Christmas gala and how her and Francie kept pressing about dating the 'right kind of boy' and how she exploded and told them all exactly why she and Tristan broke up. After she finished with that she dropped the bombshell… "So after dinner grandpa Richard asked me to join him in the study and asked if I was dating you. I guess there was something on my face that confirmed it and he told me how he and Mitchum had already assumed after they saw us together at my party."
Logan let out a deep laugh and placed a kiss on Rory's temple. "I knew he knew something!" he exclaimed and then told her about his dinner with the Fallon's and how Marissa had tried to grope him under the table, the poor matchmaking attempts and then the meeting in the study after dinner was done.
"So I guess we both had shitty nights," Rory sighed as she leaned against him.
"That we did," he told her and placed a soft kiss on her lips but before she could try and deepen it he pulled back and stood. "Now I did tell you we would relax and try to forget about everything," he stated as he took her hand and pulled her up. "First up is a bath," he stated. "I will start the water and you get more wine."
"Okay," she sighed and leaned up to place a soft kiss on his lips. Soon she joined him in the bathroom, and she quickly piled her hair into a messy bun before he helped her undress and then helped her into the tub where he sat behind her. His touch started out innocent as she massaged her shoulders and arms but her moans and they way she pressed against him quickly escalated things and his hands moved to her chest and started massaging her boobs and then rolling her nipples between his fingers causing her to gasp and arch. He lowered his lips to her neck gently kissing and sucking as one hand moved towards her core and he gently ran his finger over her folds a few times before slipping into her heat, her wetness causing him to growl and bite down on her neck.
"I love how wet you get," he stated his voice husky with desire. "I love how you respond to me," he continued as he added a second finger and she let out a breathy moan and he continued pleasing her as his lips moved back to her neck. She came panting and moaning his name and a pleased smirk crossed his face as he withdrew his fingers.
After she regained control of her breathing she turned slightly and placed a rough kiss on his lips that he greedily returned. They kissed until air became a necessity and then she moved to stand and he quickly followed and they dried off and he scooped her up and practically threw her on the bed before moving to kiss up her legs, pausing at her core and kicking her and sucking on her clit hard and she arched back and let out a strangled moan and tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled him towards her. He reluctantly moved up her body and nipped at her ear, "one of these days I'm going to tie you up," he growled but his eyes had a playful glint.
"And why would you want to do that?" she asked as she pushed him over and straddled him rubbing her core against his erection causing him to groan.
"Because I love having my face buried between your legs, I love licking you and sucking on you," he stated his voice husky with desire. "But you never let me stay there long enough," he stated with a slight whine.
"I love it when your down there," she told him as she continued to rub against him. "But if you had it your wany you would have me begging for you to let me come."
"I love it when you beg," he growled before pulling her down for a harsh kiss and he flipped them over before reaching into the nightstand for a condom and slipping it on and thrusting into her hard. The pace he set was frantic and she met his every thrust, wrapping her legs around him pulling him deeper into her but when he felt the telltale tightening he slowed his pace and she frantically pulled him deeper into her and arched up, her body begging for the release it desperately craved but he kept the slow pace a satisfied smirk on his face as her eyes met his.
"Please," she whispered and he picked up the pace slightly but it wasn't enough for her. "Please," she murmured again.
"Please what," he growled as he moved slightly back to suck on her collar bone. "Tell me what you what," he demanded as he kept the slow torturous pace.
"I want you," came her breathy response.
"Tell me what you want me to do to you," he told her as he slowed his pace slightly.
"Logan," she begged. "Please fuck me."
"I like it when you beg," he growled and pounded into her and she screamed his name as he went back to the punishing pace, grabbing her hands and pinning them above her as he pounded in, each thrust hitting her just right and she came, the orgasm was blinding, and she screamed his name. The feel of her pulsing around him brought his own intense orgasm and he came collapsing on top of her. When he regained control of his breathing, he rolled off of her and went to dispose of the condom. She heard a muttered 'fuck' from the bathroom, and he walked back into the room.
"What's wrong?" she asked noticing the blank look on his face.
"The condom broke," he told her.
"I have an IUD," she reminded him. "We don't really need the condom."
He studied her and moved to lay on the bed next to her. "I just want to give you that protection," he told her honestly. "I know you have it, but we have just never talked about not using condoms."
"I know," she told him as she moved slightly to look at him and she saw the worried look on his face. "What are you thinking?"
"Ace, we are having sex, a lot of sex," he stated with a slight chuckle. "And I know condoms aren't 100%, I mean look at what just happened and with the IUD I know chances are slim," he sighed, pausing for a moment. "I've never had to talk to a woman about this, but I want you to know, I need you to know that if we get pregnant I'm not going anywhere."
A smile bloomed across his face, "I know your not," she stated and caressed his face. "I always knew you would be there for me; it was one of the reasons I wasn't worried about having sex with you. But what you just said… I know you would be there." At his slightly confused look she let out a slight giggle. "You just said if we get pregnant."
"Its not just you Ace," he told her as he placed a soft kiss on her lips. "I'm not going anywhere."
"I'm not going anywhere either," she sighed against his lips and kissed him again. When they broke apart, she gazed into his eyes and everything in her settled, she knew that she loved him. She couldn't say the words so instead she kissed him and tried to pour every emotion she felt into it. When they broke apart she settled onto his chest and he ran his fingers through her hair until her breathing evened out and he knew she was asleep.
"I love you Ace," he whispered. He wanted to tell her those words, but he was afraid that she didn't feel the same but as he held her after what they had just talked about, he couldn't keep them in, he loved her. With that thought he closed his eyes and drifted off with her.
Friendsgiving had arrived and with it a flurry of activity. Logan laughed as Rory moved around the kitchen pulling out toasted bread from the oven and placing the cookie sheet on the counter. Their guests should be arriving shortly, and Rory had been in the kitchen for hours making a lasagna, bruschetta, mozzarella salad, a cheese board, he had helped her some throughout the day and he had to admit he enjoyed this. There was something so perfect about making a meal for friends, laughing in the kitchen… this is what he had always wished for but never expected to find. She had just finished putting the bruschetta together when there was a knock on the door and he went to answer it. He was greeted by Colin, Finn, Steph, Rosemary, Juliet and Robert and they were carrying a variety of deserts and drinks.
"Something smells amazing!" Colin exclaimed as he walked in. The group had all been in the apartment before and it still amazed them how homey and welcoming she had made it. She had already had Logan set up a tree that they had bought on Wednesday and the pine scent filled the apartment along with the feast she had cooked.
"Oh, you got a real tree!" Steph squealed as she looked at it and then noticed the boxes and bags of decorations near it.
"We got it Wednesday," Logan laughed as he grabbed some of the deserts from Rosemary and walked toward the island to set everything down.
Rory walked out of the kitchen and greeted everyone and pointed Finn towards the bar area and the space she had cleared off. "I hope everyone is hungry!" she exclaimed. "Appetizers are all ready and the lasagna will be done soon."
The group settled on the couch and enjoyed the snacks and some wine.
"Where did you get this from?" Juliet asked as she took another bruschetta.
Logan laughed and the group looked at him curiously. "Ace woke up early this morning to start making this."
"You cook?" Rosemary exclaimed.
Rory shrugged and blushed slightly. "Yeah, I thought you all knew that."
"Not really," Robert shrugged. "If you mentioned it, I think we all assumed it was like easy stuff of frozen."
The kitchen timer went off and Rory stood to pull the lasagna out of the oven. "Where did you learn to cook?" Colin asked as he watched her. "Most society women just direct their maids around and no offense, but we have all heard the stories about Emily."
Rory laughed as she carried the pan to place on the table. "The Hayden's have had the same cook for years and she taught me some basics and I just kept learning over the years. The lasagna needs to sit for a bit so we should be ready in about 20," she told them as she walked back into the kitchen to put the bread in the oven.
Soon the meal was ready, and they all settled around the table and enjoyed the meal. They talked about how the 'family' Thanksgivings were, each of them agreeing that this meal was much better not just for the company but also the food. It was funny watching them dig into the food, well all of them except Juliet who stuck with the salad and the tomatoes off the bruschetta, her meal causing all of them to laugh telling her to eat something. The group was amazed at how well Rory cooked and each of them demanded she invite them over again for a meal. Wine flowed freely as they talked, the group laughed when Rory told them about the year, she had done four Thanksgiving's. Rory's childhood was dramatically different than theirs and while she was firmly entrenched in society now, they all knew that it had not always been that way.
"So love, you have never told us how you got sucked into our world," Finn drunkenly stated. The others all looked at Rory questioningly and Logan gently squeezed her hand.
"Its not that great of a story," Rory sighed. The day had gone so well, and she didn't want to think about the past… but these people were quickly becoming important to her so she slightly relented. "You all probably heard the story some, my mom got pregnant at 16 and when I was around a year old, she ran away to Stars Hollow. I didn't know my dad or grandparents until I was 16 and got accepted into Chilton. Things… about our departure came to light and I wanted to get to know my family better so started spending time with them and that caused a rift with my mom…" she trailed off and Logan pulled her to him and wrapped an arm around her shoulder trying to comfort her. He knew the some of the story, but he also knew that she didn't feel comfortable talking about it all.
Steph noticed how uncomfortable she was so quickly stood, "who is ready to start decorating?" she asked moving toward the bags. Rory looked at her thankfully and went to join her and the others went with the subject change and soon they were all fighting about the best placement for the ornaments.
"Wait!" Rory exclaimed before they fully started. "I have a present for each of you." She grabbed a bag and started handing each of them a package. "I got ornaments for each of you."
The group laughed and started opening the presents. Rory had gotten Colin one that looked like a sweater vest, Finn a bottle of Capt Morgan, Steph got one that looked like a gorilla, Robert got one of a parrot, Juliet received one in the shape of a hamburger in memory of a drunken night when the group had convinced her to eat one, Rose got a microphone in reference to her love of karaoke and finally for Logan she had gotten him the Eifel Tower. Everyone was amazed at the thoughtfulness and placed them on the tree.
"We are going to have to do this every year," Steph sighed. "But next year someone else has to pick out all the ornaments. And now we will have to find you one."
"Oh no," Rory laughed. "I just thought this would be fun."
"That's how traditions are started," Rose chimed in. "And this is something that would be an amazing tradition."
Soon the house was decorated, and the group settled on the couch to watch Christmas movies and Logan studied the group. It was amazing to him how Rory had changed his life so much in such a short time, evenings like this is what he wanted.