Disclaimer: i do not own gilmore girls

A/N: Thank you as always for the support, I think we are nearing the end of this one...not sure exactly how close, but probably another 5-7 chapters + an epilogue. I have a few other things on my mind and will continue with my Happier sequel, One Day.

In this chapter we see the Dark Lord and his wife, if you read Happier you know I made them both happy and loveable, but not as much the case this time. More true to cannon for Mitchum and Shira. Read, review, enjoy.

Chapter Twenty

Rory was exhausted. Flying to Hartford had been exhausting, it should have been easier, they were on a private jet, but it was still exhausting. "Guys, I'm going to take you to the Dragonfly to see your Dad for the night," she told them, "Mom needs some sleep."

Logan glanced over from the passenger seat, he could see how tired she was, she was running on empty. "Can I steal you for the night?" he asked her.

"Babe," Rory sighed as she flipped her turn signal to merge onto the highway, "I just…I want to hang out with my Mom and sleep like really sleep. Tomorrow I'm coming with you to the Christmas party, and then after that is Christmas Eve, and I will see you again on New Years Eve," Rory recited the itinerary that she had memorized. The boys would hang out with her Mom, Luke and Perry until the morning of the 24th and then they would be with Rory at Lorelai's house until New Years Eve when Perry would fly with them to Toronto to spend a couple of days with his family. He would fly them back to California on January 5th and then he would return to Buffalo. Perry would fly in and out from Buffalo, when he was with the boys, Rory would go to Palo Alto to see Logan.

"I will pick you up tomorrow at 5? We have a driver taking us to Manhattan for the party, and if you have time I would like to check out an apartment?"

Rory smiled, the thought of them building their life together was enough to make her forget that she was exhausted, "Sounds perfect," she told him. "You aren't mad?"

Logan shook his head as the signs on the highway flew by them, "not mad, in fact it means I will get to spend some time with Honor and her family, so that is good."

"You'll take this car? Right?"

"That was the plan. You said you didn't need to drive much once you get to the Hollow, and Perry has the car he rented."

"All true," Rory smiled, "so what is the dress code for this party?"

"Formal."

"Formal formal?"

"Formal."

"Semi formal?"

"Black tie."

xxx

"You guys are going to be good for Dad, right?" Rory looked at her four boys as they stood in the lobby of the Dragonfly Inn.

"I want to stay with Grandma," James pouted.

"No," Rory shook her head, "Dad tonight, and Auntie Sarah will be here tomorrow night with you guys."

"All set?" Perry met them in the lobby.

"All yours," she handed him a duffle bag, "be good for Dad," Rory kissed each of them on the head, "I love you, and I will see you on Christmas Eve. Sookie is going to makes cookies with you tomorrow," she added.

"I thought Mom was coming tomorrow?"

Perry nodded and gave Eli's arm a squeeze, "Mom will decorate them with us," he explained.

"Bye Mama," James smiled.

"Bye boys," Rory kissed them all once more before walking away, she had walked with the boys from the Crap Shack, "I love you. Call if you need me Perry, I'm in Manhattan tomorrow." Rory walked back to her childhood home, she enjoyed the cool air and the time to think, it was so rare that she was truly alone. What little time she had alone she spent working, rarely would she actually relax. After spending the afternoon with Rory and the kids, Lorelai and Luke were out on a date, Rory made it back home, she made herself a cup of coffee before plopping on the couch and turning on The Godfather, she pulled out her laptop and began perusing the latest online issue of Hugo, she was glad to see mostly positive comments and dialogue on her own articles as she jotted down notes and ideas for possible future articles. Knowing that Logan would be busy working for most of January, she figured it was a good opportunity to get a few articles written in advance and start researching schools for the boys to attend in Manhattan.

Moving.

It sounded so easy, so simple. She remembered the first time she moved in with Logan, Colin and Finn moving her boxes out of her sketchy apartment and right into Logan's penthouse. She was relieved that this time was different. She wasn't moving into his place, they would find their own place. Logan had forwarded her a bunch of listings that Honor had gone to visit, various sizes, prices, new construction, existing construction, condos, brownstones, everything and anything. Rory smiled as she flipped through them and quickly called his number.

"Ace, I thought this was your alone time," Logan smiled into the phone, she could hear that he was smiling.

"It was, it is, my parents are out on a date," Rory explained, "do you have a few minutes?"

Logan was waiting for his sister to return from putting her kids to bed, Logan was waiting for Honor in the living room, "I'm all yours."

"So I'm looking at the listings your sister looked at…"

"Good," Logan waited for her to say something else, "…not good?"

"No, not not good, but…they are just…very expensive," she admitted, they hadn't discussed a budget, they had discussed size, bedrooms, amenities, location.

"Don't worry about the money, Ace."

"Logan, I have to worry about the money. One of these places cost sixty million dollars - that is such an obscene amount of money."

"Rory, I sold a company for almost a billion dollars," Logan felt like an ass as he said it, he didn't talk about money. They never spoke about money, she was wealthy, he was more wealthy, but Logan was more wealthy than most people. "I just want us to find a place, a place that has enough space for you and the boys and I don't have to worry about a crack dealer on the ground floor," Logan referenced the apartment that Rory had shared with Paris, "I can buy the apartment, we can both be on the title."

Rory sighed, she knew this is what he was going to say, that he just wanted to be with her, "Logan…"

"Ace," he paused.

"Please let me contribute, once I sell the place in Encino, my realtor thinks that will go for ten to twelve million, and I have some money that I have from my Grandparents…"

"Ace, stop, please," Logan interrupted her, "we will talk about this tomorrow, but, and I know you won't listen to this but, but I'm still going to say it…don't worry about the money."

"I'm going to worry about the money. I get fifteen thousand a month in child support for the boys, and another five in alimony, but honestly I need to look into if that stops…so if we take out a mortgage, with a good down payment, and my job…"

"Rory!" Logan interrupted once more, "We can discuss this in person," he told her. "For tonight, just look at the ones you like. I love you, goodnight."

"I love you too," Rory sighed, "but you know I'm not going to accept the idea of you just taking care of everything…I have four kids, we need a bigger place because I have four kids."

"So I want to talk to you about that," Logan reignited the conversation.

"I thought you just said goodnight."

Logan brushed past her comment, "This whole 'I have four kids' business…Rory, I know they aren't my kids and their Dad is very much a part of their life…but I love those boys, I have fallen in love with your kids, and this idea that they aren't mine too, well, they aren't baggage…they are an important part of our life."

"I wish you were here," Rory smiled, tears welling in her eyes a little bit as she spoke, "I love you Logan."

"Goodnight Ace, I love you too."

As Rory ended the call she heard the doorknob jingling and Luke and Lorelai stumbled in the front door in a fit of laughter, "Hi Mom, Luke, how was dinner?"

"Oh kiddo, it was great," Lorelai smiled, "how was your night to yourself?" she surveyed the papers around her daughter. "Rory, you were working?" she exclaimed.

"I banked some articles," Rory countered, "so that I can take some time off later in the month…I looked at listings for Manhattan with Logan…bickered with Logan about Manhattan."

"What were you bickering about? Shouldn't you still be in that lovey dovey phase? I swear, when you were together before you never left that phase…it was nauseating," Lorelai sat down on the couch beside her, grabbing a listing as she did. "These are…big."

"And expensive. Big and expensive," Rory agreed, "Logan tells me that I don't need to worry about the money…but I just…"

"You worry about the money."

"How can I not worry about the money?"

Lorelai sighed, this was her daughter. She had raised her to be independent of the Hartford society she came from, not to accept anything for free, not to trust a gift or support to come without strings. Lorelai had raised Rory to depend only on herself. "Honey, this is a good thing," Lorelai told her, "you have a man who loves you, and he is trying to make sure that you have the best of everything…he wants there to be room for your boys, he is building a family with you…that is a good thing."

"But…I can't afford to do half of these places," Rory gestured to the papers in front of her.

"Rory, I don't know what you should do. I don't know if you should find something smaller, or a crackhouse in the Bronx or what, but you and Logan need to talk…honestly, openly. Talk to your money guy, tell him what you can do, and listen when he tells you what he wants to do. Don't let your pride stop you from having something amazing. Do you understand me, kiddo? I just want you to be happy."

"You think I'm stunted? Emotionally stunted?" Rory put her hand on her chest and gasped.

"No, I think that you are used to building a life with someone, and Logan…he is self made or whatever you want to call it…you are blending a life, and some of that will involve you conceding a little bit…just a bit though. You did take his private jet out here Ror, you aren't exactly shying away from his money…the man rented you Disney."

"He is perfect Mom."

"So let him be perfect. Don't try to find a problem where there doesn't have to be one. He loves you, he loves the boys…"

xxx

"You sent a dress," Rory grinned as Logan knocked on the door.

"Well I got the feeling you didn't have anything formal for tonight after I dropped you off. So I made a couple of calls, and you look amazing," Logan looked her up and down, he had looked online and called Neiman Marcus, requesting a Mac Duggal v-neck beaded gown with long sleeves and a thigh high slit, and a pair of Christian Louboutin Spikaqueen pumps to finish off the outfit, Rory Gilmore would be the most beautiful person in the room. The truth of the matter was, Logan would think Rory was the most beautiful person int he room even if she was wearing a brown paper bag. "You look gorgeous, Finn and Colin will think you're too good for me."

"Well, if Finn thinks it…" Rory pressed a kiss against his lips, "thank you for the dress. I love it."

"I'm glad, how are you feeling about tonight?" Logan asked as he walked her to the waiting limousine.

"The firing squad?" Rory joked. She carefully stepped into the car with Logan sliding in beside her and checked her purse, making sure she had her cellphone and suitable lipgloss, the driver had taken her overnight bag to the trunk and the car started moving slowly. "Well, I'm a grown ass woman who doesn't particularly care what your parents think of me now…"

"Glad to hear it," Logan smiled, "maybe one day I can say the same…I swear, I try not to worry about them, but they can be ridiculous. To be clear, I don't care what they think about me but I do care about how they treat the woman that I love."

"Well, why don't you just start the conversation that way. Mitch, Shira…you remember Rory, I love her." Rory laughed, "that will be an ice breaker." Rory thought back to the disastrous dinner she had with the Huntzbergers all those years ago, how she wasn't enough, she didn't understand, she wanted more. It wasn't lost on Rory that in some ways, on a much smaller scale, her marriage with Perry had been her doing all of the things she swore she didn't want. Hosting parties and dinners for friends, being the perfect PTA parent. Sure, it wasn't the DAR and charity functions, it wasn't being a corporate wife, but she certainly knew how to engage in more idle chitchat than she cared to admit.

"Hugo will be there, did I tell you that? Colin, Finn, Stephanie, Honor, Josh…Robert…" Logan paused to think, "The editor of The Times, Dean, he will be there, a few other guys, about two hundred Huntzberger employees, some random family members, business acquaintances….you probably don't know this, but your Grandparents used to come to this party every year."

"I do remember," Rory smiled at the mention of her grandparents. She missed them, especially this time of year, she desperately wished they were around to see her children grow. "One year I think we all intersected at that event."

"And what a year that was," Logan laughed at the memory. The champagne, the Ritz, they had been caught by his father hooking up in the coatcheck, Finn and Rosemary had gotten together that evening, and to say that the entire situation was memorable would be an understatement. It could have been worse, it could have been her Mother, her Father, her Step-Father catching them in the act, but they had done that, so it served Logan right that it was his own father who would catch them in the act a couple of years later.

"I don't know why Mitchum didn't love me," Rory laughed as well, resting her head on his shoulder, "where are we staying tonight?"

"I booked us a suite at The Ritz, same place as the party so we just have to stumble our way into an elevator and go upstairs for me to take this dress off of you."

"Logan," Rory blushed, "we are not twenty two anymore."

"No, we're not, which is why we will go up to our room instead of me feeling you up in a coat check," Logan countered, "I promise, we'll wait until after you have met all of the nerdy newspaper people you want to see. I'm sure Finn will demand at least a dance, but don't let Robert get too close to you…he's always had a crush on you."

Rory laughed, the car made its way onto the freeway, "Robert doesn't have a crush on me," Rory told him, "isn't he dating someone?"

"His secretary," Logan nodded, "but he does. Always has, remember the party?"

"The party?"

"Quentin Tarantino…"

"Logan, that was a million years ago." Rory knew that Logan was just being silly, but her stomach was in knots, it was a huge event. The Huntzberger Publishing Group holiday party, titans of industry would be there, celebrities, politicians, it was certainly a bigger party than she was used to, and it was the first time in over a decade that she would be attending an event like this with Logan. "You were just kidding, weren't you?"

Logan nodded and put an arm around her giving her a squeeze, "relax Ace."

xxx

"Hugo!" Rory grinned and embraced her boss and old friend, "Where is your gorgeous wife?"

"Nat is at the bar," Hugo smiled, "funny, you work for me on the West Coast but somehow we are here, same place, same time."

"Small world," Rory laughed, "I was surprised to hear you were coming."

"Well I am being courted," Hugo wiggled his eyebrows, "I haven't been courted in a long time."

"Does Natalie know?" Rory played along.

He nodded his head, "yes, that is why she is here. Much more charming than I am, not to mention better looking."

"Looks much better in a dress," Rory agreed. "How long are you here?"

"Just until tomorrow. We flew in three days ago. In-laws are watching the hellions."

"Of course, one perk of having an ex-husband is that he watches the kids, and the alimony, of course." Rory joked. Logan walked over and joined them, pleasantly chatting about work and discussing the ideas that he and his father had for the magazine. "We should make the rounds, Hugo, Nat, please make sure we catch you before the night is over?" Rory smiled as Logan put his hand on the small of her back, his fingers dipping dangerously low.

"Merry Christmas," Logan smiled at their friends and kissed Rory on the cheek, "are you ready to ruin the fun?"

"Time to see your parents?"

Logan nodded, "Honor just told them that they had to see you, and I think I heard Josh mutter thank god, so…we're up."

"I swear, that is more than I will have ever heard Josh speak if he says that in my presence," Rory laughed.

"Mom, Dad, you remember Rory?"

"Mrs. Cramer is it?" Shira gave a broad smile, Rory had seen it enough times to know that it was beyond insincere, "So glad to see you again after all these years. Merry Christmas."

"Oh, it's still Ms. Gilmore," Rory smiled politely, "thank you both so much for having me." Rory kissed her on the cheek and fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Merry Christmas to you too, Shira."

"Rory, excellent to see you," Mitchum gave her a hug, "I've been reading your work with Hugo, I must say, I am impressed."

"Thank you, good to see you too Mitchum. I'm really enjoying myself with Hugo."

"Hopefully Logan and I can sink our teeth into him soon."

Honor waited patiently beside her father waiting for the pleasantries to end, "Ok, enough about work. Rory! You look fantastic! This dress! You have not had three children!" she squealed.

Rory blushed and smoothed the beaded dress, "You're too kind, thank you Honor." She appreciated the friendly face, she hadn't seen Honor since her birthday, and if she was being honest, she was hoping to get to spend some time with her. "You also look fantastic!"

"Pilates," Honor winked.

"I thought you had four children? Logan, didn't you say she has four boys?" Shira smiled cooly.

"Mother," Logan warned.

"Oh no, it's fine Logan," Rory looped their arms together and gave Logan a squeeze. "My ex-husband, Perry, he had one son before we got married, Eli, so he is my oldest, and then Luca is 8, and I have twin boys, James and Christopher, they are six."

"Busy, you must have your hands full. I know Honor and Logan were more than enough for me."

"And to think you barely handled them without a full staff," Mitchum rolled his eyes, hoping that the point would be made to his wife and that she would play nice with Rory.

"They are great kids, and their Dad is around, and they all absolutely adore Logan, so…I'm fortunate. Plus, once you get out of the diaper stage, and they can get themselves in and out of the car…it can only go up from there."

"Will you be joining us on Christmas Day?" Shira inquired.

"Mom, come on." Logan interjected once more.

"I have my boys for the day, so I will be with my Mom in Stars Hollow, the kids, their Dad…Eli's Mom."

"How modern."

"I think it sounds great," Honor smiled, "we know a few divorced couples who are just a mess, the kids are a mess, they can't get along for a minute, so I think it is just wonderful that you can get along for your kids."

"Thank you, it isn't always perfect…we certainly have our…moments, but our kids are what matters." Rory nodded, "I must admit, I'm secretly hoping Logan might be able to join us later in the evening," she looked hopefully at the blonde haired man who was tracing his finger along her forearm.

"I will be there."