Logan woke to the sound of the rain beating against the window, his eyes adjusting quickly to the obscure greyness he could see through the curtains. Rory was still snuggled up against him, her hands on his chest and knees curled up. He glanced at the time, trying not to wake her - 11.45 AM. His eyes travelled across the room noting the old poster still hung up on the wall, listing their discussion points and reminding him of the painfulness of the evening, which had gone very differently than he'd imagined. In many ways it would have been easier to stay in their bubble, not knowing everything that had gone on in those years in between, but he understood that if they were ever going to make this work for real, that information had been vital. More than anything he wished he could travel back in time somehow, to do things differently when he proposed, saving them both a lot of heartache, saving her from all that. He wondered how Rory's past relationships would affect what they had now, whether it would influence whatever they decided to do. Rory had said she loved and trusted Logan, and he believed her. He also knew he'd placed her in a number of difficult positions in the past, last night included, now knowing what he knew, pushing her in any way was the last thing he should do when it came to working out their potential future. Still, what he wanted to do, without repeating past mistakes, was to assure her he was not going to leave her again. He was just about to think of possible scenarios that he could do to be with her, the practical kind, when Rory began to stir.
She rolled to her back, stretching her back and arms out, opening her eyes.
"Good morning," he greeted, trying to start the morning on a positive note. He needed a break from all the seriousness.
"Morning," Rory replied. "What time is it?" she inquired.
"Almost noon," he replied.
"Wow, now I feel like we've missed most of the day," she said, recalling disturbingly that her plane was leaving in almost 24 hours.
"The weather sort of screwed up my plans anyways," he said, getting ready to get up from the bed. While he would've gladly stayed with her in bed, just holding her, he needed to distance himself from the heavyness of last night's conversation, at least for a while.
"Sorry about that," she said, sitting up in bed, her legs crossed.
"Don't be, not your fault," he said, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Listen," he turned around just as he'd reached the bedroom door, adding, "Rory, correct me if I am wrong but I feel that we both want to be together. So maybe, me saying this will just skip us a long, harder than it should be, conversation. I think that if the only thing we figure out today is whether we do want to try to make us work, that alone would be plenty for me. The rest are just the details, and those we can work on in time, long distance if we have to. Just the load of information was heavy yesterday, I am still processing myself. But I do meant what I said about that not changing how I feel about you. I just think I'd like to actually spend some time without today - just being, not necessarily going over analyzing every detail of our past or our present emotions. So please, can you just think about this while I go shower and make us some breakfast."
Rory was stunned by that little speech, having not quite expected him to simplify everything that was aready going on in her head, fearing her immindent departure in less than 24 hours. She knew what he meant - the evening hadn't been easy, not for the speaker or the listener. But it had to be done. And now, despite wanting to figure everything out, she found it very hard to disagree with what Logan had just said. She did want to be with him. And truthfully, the world didn't seem like such a big place as it had nearly a decade ago.
When Logan emerged from the bathroom, a towel around his waist, he was a little surprised to hear Rory in the kitchen. He quickly pulled on a pair of light sweatpants and a grey t-shirt, and joined her in the kitchen.
Rory was just getting ready to put coffeegrains in the moka pot when he got there, pausing at the sight of him, still in last night's clothing. Her eyes bloodshot, her face a little tired - still there in his kitchen, making him coffee, she was still the only person he wanted to see in front of him.
"Logan, I do agree," she said, facing him just has he was about to pass her on his way to the frige.
Logan halted, looked her in the eyes, contemplating whether that had now meant what he had been hoping to hear.
"I do want to be with you, and I can't argue with any of the things you just said. So fine, we don't put us through anything else we don't feel like today," Rory said, sensing he needed it to be spelled out for him.
Logan was at a loss for words, instead of struggling to come up with an adequate response he pulled her close by her waist crashing his lips onto hers, letting out a soft sob of relief mixed with gratitude from the bottom of his throat. She parted her lips at his request, allowing his tounge to explore him, kissing back, feeling for once like on stabile ground again.
As Rory materialized from the shower fifteen minutes later, Logan had prepared breakfast for them.
"So apparently, all we have this morning is cheese and crackers, oh and jam," he announced apologetically.
"The French would consider this a full meal-course," she chuckled. "I guess we should go do some grocery shopping today then or do you have other plans?" Rory asked.
"You know what, I think that's exactly what we're doing today," Logan replied smilingly. He wanted to do the most common, simple thing with her. This was no longer about showing her around town or making flashy gestures. He just wanted to feel what it would be once again like to live with her, to just be with her. "I'll cook for us today and we can stay in and watch movies or something for the rest of the day," he added.
"That sound wonderful, actually," she commented smilingly, biting into a piece of Brie.
It was still raining outside, when the two walked arms linked, Logan holding the large black umbrella, leaping over the puddles left by the rain. It was barely ten minutes walk to the Farmer's market where Logan had decided to take her first.
"Hey, Ace, how's your vegetable intake these days?" he asked looking at the vegetable section, while she walked a few steps ahead, the smell of fresh produce filling their nostrils.
"Significantly imporved. That's what happens when you hang around Paris too long instead of my mom," she laughed.
He smiled, picking out some aubergines and tomatoes along with a few palmfuls of arugula. At the next stall he bought fresh local apples, and at the next organic butter and eggs. Rory stood under the pop-up roof of another stall, trying to decide which type of fresh pasta she wanted.
"You decide what you want yet?" he asked as he joined her.
"Any suggestions?" she asked in return.
"I always love the Campanelle," he replied.
"Sure, lets get that," she agreed.
He ordered in German, quite fluently, to her surprise.
"I knew you spoke a little German, but I didn't quire realize you were that good," she stated.
"Well that wasn't particularily good, he barely understood me probably, but they appreciate the effort here," Logan smirked, "but I'm glad it's believable," he added.
They continued down the row of stalls, grabbing a few more items before continuing to a small corner shop to buy a few more regular staple itmes and a bottle of wine, before heading back. The rain had eased up a bit, but still there was little that was more appealing that just hiding out in the apartment for the day, just the two of them.
"So what are we watching?" Rory asked, getting comfortable in Logan's bed, just wearing her tanktop and panties, the blanket drawn over her bare legs.
"Let's say...you choose one and I'll choose the next one, deal?" Logan suggested.
"Alright…," she replied browsing the Netflix selection. "How about One Day - have you seen it? Or read it?" she asked.
"Read, not seen," Logan replied.
"Logan Huntzberger, you do surprise me," she commented, pushing 'play'.
"It's sort of part of my job description to know what sells," he noted, justifying himself.
"I'm sure it is, but I bet you liked it," she joked, snuggling next to him, his hand across the pillow supporting her back. The warmth of his body radiated into her, almost distractingly, as they settled into the ever so casual setting they'd once been so accustomed to.
It was almost an hour through the movie, when she spoke. "Do you think your parents are going to have a problem with me?" she asked hestiantly.
"Rory, we're not in our early 20s anymore. Mitchum may essentially be my boss, but his opinion has little effect on how I live my life anymore, if they don't like it, it's their loss," he replied, calmly.
"What about Honor? I sense that her opinon still matters a lot to you," Rory inquired further.
"I think all she wants is for me to be happy, I am already. She might be concerned or worried whether I might end up getting hurt again, but that's not something we can really plan. Nor do I want to," Logan replied.
"I don't want to hurt you. I can't hurt you again," she stated.
"I know you don't, neither do I," he assured.
"You really don't want to discuss how we'll make this work?" Rory asked, still feeling a little uncertain.
Logan sighed. He liked the broadness of their earlier decision, agreeing on the end goal and not the details. But he sensed that it wasn't quite enough for her. Rory was a planner after all, she needed schedules and plans.
"How about this," he began, pausing briefly. "I'm coming to New York in two weeks, I'll be in town for 3-4 days, I know it's not a lot, but I think the two weeks is just the right lenght of time for both of us to map out our options and willingness to alter our lives. I know I am willing, it's just the question of 'how' to do it in the best possible way. I know that probably it'll have to be a compromise, or one of us will have to take a bigger leap than the other, but so be it - life is about taking chances, isn't it?" he said. He would've been willing to do it himself if he had to, if that was what it took to be with her.
"Okay, two weeks," she sighed, accepting his answer. While that still held a certain amount of uncertainty, for now it was enough for her.