A/N- To all my reviewers. I see you, I hear you and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You all are a big motivator. Thank you.
Logan stood outside a grand three-story brick mansion, with its grounds spreading 28 acres. The house had a mix of hardwood & modern flooring, charming details like French doors and arched windows. Logan was more into modern aesthetics, but his sister was a history buff. From taking a history major in college to choosing this property across from the Mark Twain House Museum. She always had a greater appreciation for things with a history and old-world elegance.
Logan rang the doorbell and waited for someone to open the door.
''I got it.'' Honor opened the door and crossed her arms. ''You are late like always.''
''Sorry, sis.'' Logan kissed Honor on the cheek and stepped inside her home. Even though Honor's house had expensive artwork by some very famous names hanging here or there, her home gave a very homely vibe, not like a museum. Maybe it was because she had hung up her and Josh's photos in the house as well. Not the posed photos, but the candid ones. The ones capturing her real smile and Josh's...well, lack of expressions. There were photos of them as young children, photos from Honor's teenage years. Someone had captured these moments when everyone was looking away from the camera and truly living in the moment, enjoying the moment. Logan presumed the photos must be clicked by one of her viper friends. Logan shivered at their memory and shook his head.
''So Honor, what is the big news that you wanted to tell me. And where is my man Josh? It's been a while since I last saw him.'' Logan looked around for Josh. When he couldn't see Josh anywhere, he walked inside Honor's kitchen, humming a tune and getting himself a glass of water.
Honor studied Logan closely. He seemed very happy today, giddy even. Whenever Logan came to her house after he graduated, he would usually come in a sour mood, complaining about the hectic life he was living in California or something annoying that their mom was forcing him to attend. But today was different. Today, he seemed more visibly happy.
''Josh is out in the back.'' Honor pointed towards large French windows overlooking the grounds. He will be here in a few minutes. Let's sit in the living room till then.'' Honor was still trying to figure out if her brother was genuinely happy or two steps away from a mental breakdown because of something their parents did.
Honor had always been protective of Logan. In a house surrounded by nannies, tutors, and coaches. The only real family bond they formed was with each other.
Until middle school, Logan acted like a big brother to Honor, getting in fights with kids at school who made fun of Honor's stammering. This changed when their parents hired a speech coach for her and, after months of therapy, she stopped stammering. Her school dynamics completely changed after that. It felt like, in a matter of few months, she made so many new friends. Her confidence only grew from there. With Logan growing up and getting into even more trouble than he already did, it was Honor's turn to step up even more and be his confidante in life.
''Why are you looking at me like that?'' Logan asked Honor, who was staring at him.
''You look happy.'' Honor observed.
''Excuse me? Is that such a bad thing? Logan lifted an eyebrow.
''No, but you haven't looked this happy in a while.''
''Well...It's a good day.'' Logan smiled to himself and relaxed back on the couch.
''Hello, Logan.'' Josh entered the room and shaking hands with Logan.
''Josh. How's it going, brother?'' Logan stood up to shake hands with Josh and sat back down.
Josh also noticed Logan's happy mood and looked at Honor. Honor shrugged her shoulders. Josh sat down next to Honor.
''So? What is it, guys?'' Logan asked her sister and his brother-in-law.
''We have something important to share with you, Logan.'' Honor Chirped, momentarily forgetting Logan's peculiar behavior as soon as she remembered the news they wanted to share with Logan.
''Okayy'' Logan raised an eyebrow, maintaining eye contact with his sister.
Honor faced Josh, who gave her a sweet smile of encouragement. She turned around to Logan and announced, ''You are going to be an uncle Logan. I am pregnant.''
Logan looked baffled at the news. He was not expecting this news. He was instantly very happy for his sister. ''Oh my god! Honor! This is fantastic news.'' Logan got up to hug his sister.
''Congratulations, Josh. I am so thrilled for you guys.'' Logan said to Josh, who looked extremely happy.
''Thank you, baby brother. I promise you will never be neglected, so don't feel like an abandoned child.'' Honor's eyes welled up from sharing this news with her brother. In a sense, Logan was her only family, who would be totally happy for her without any opinions, expectations, or pressure. The only one who would be thrilled for this new milestone in her life. Her mother would start planning the baby shower along with many other events she could possibly throw for her child without taking a moment to bond over the arrival of a new member in their family. Her dad would be happy but wouldn't take time off work to celebrate this with her.
Logan rolled his eyes at this and sat back down. ''You do realize I am about to turn 28, right?''
''Now now bother. Just letting you know that you'll always be my baby brother.''
''Glad to know.'' Logan said sarcastically.
''Okay, so I haven't told THEM yet.'' Honor said referring, to their parents. ''It's early, very early. I don't want to deal with all the pressure mom is going to put on me pregnant until I absolutely have to do.''
''Hey, you don't have to tell me.'' Logan smiled sympathetically at his sister. He knew that even though his dad put all the pressure of being the heir to Huntzberger's empire on him. Honor usually had to deal with their mom. Shira put pressure on Honor regarding everything she deemed necessary that a daughter of the Huntzberger family must do. Everything from how to dress, how to talk, how to behave in a society. Name an action Shira would have a how-to guide.
Honor suddenly realized Logan's odd behaviors at the starting of the evening. ''Okay, now tell me and be honest.''
''Tell you what?'' He knew Honor wasn't going to let it go, so why was he fighting it?
''Are we keeping secrets from each other now, baby brother?'' Honor looked at him, asking him to open up.
''There is nothing to tell.'' Logan lied.
Honor eyed Logan suspiciously ''I haven't seen you this happy since forever. Actually, since two years ago when you and Rory broke up. After that, you were always like half present at the moment. So unless that changed, which is unlikely...'' Honor slapped a hand over her mouth.
Logan smirked.
''Tell me everything.'' Honor demanded. Josh took it as his cue to get up and leave unless he wanted to be stuck in this conversation between the two siblings. Josh excused himself and went to finish up some of his work.
''Well...'' Logan started.
''It's Rory? Isn't it?'' Honor enquired.
''Yes, it Rory. But it's not what you are thinking...'' Logan tried to tell his sister.
Honor stopped him in between and asked, ''Are you guys back together? How did you two meet again?''
''Will you let me speak? or you going to keep interrupting me?'' Logan was amused at his sister's excitement.
''Okay, sorry. Continue. I am just a little excited.'' Honor leaned back on the sofa and made herself comfortable for the story Logan was about to tell her.
''I had no idea she was going to be at The New York Times.''
''Our New York Times?'' Honor asked, her eyes round with excitement.
''Do you want me to tell you or not?'' Logan slightly annoyed now at his sister for interrupting, refraining him from actually telling her the story.
''This was the last time. I promise.'' Honor lied.
Logan knew his sister couldn't help herself when she was excited about something. He was a little happy that someone was excited as him at meeting Rory again. Maybe not as happy as him but, Honor was close. He could only imagine how the boys were going to react but, that was a conversation for another day.
''So I walk into a conference room. I start introducing myself. While I am speaking, I see Rory sitting right there...'' Logan told Honor about the first time he saw Rory in the conference room. Rory's excuse for wanting to come up to him the next day, which they both agreed, was obviously an attempt to start a conversation with Logan. Logan finished the story by telling Honor about the Lunch he had with Rory that day.
''Idiots.'' Honors said after hearing how they handled their Lunch.
''Excuse me?'' Logan asked, confused. Why would Honor call them stupid? He thought that she would probably tell him that he handled everything calmly.
"Idiots. You both are idiots.'' Honor declared.
''But why? I thought I handled it pretty well. I was calm, didn't get angry after those first few comments. I didn't say anything I regret.'' Logan justified whatever Honor was accusing him of doing.
''That's the point. To protect Rory's feelings and, in return your own. You didn't talk about the rejected proposal. And I am guessing Rory did the same. You should have asked her for her reasons for saying no and, you should have explained what you wanted to come out of the proposal.''
''Come out of the proposal? She would have been my wife. That would have come out of the proposal. Wasn't that clear with the ring and Will you marry me''. Logan was getting angry again. He took a deep breath to calm down.
''No, you dummy. You should have told Rory why you wanted her to say yes so desperately at that moment and why suddenly it was all or nothing for you.''
''So that she could have run away from me? We wouldn't even be friends now If I did that'' Logan challenged his sister.
''Friends? You two?'' Honor snorted.
Logan stared at his sister.
Honor didn't want to push her brother away by forcing this on him so much. She wanted him to be able to come to her when he was ready to finally talk about everything with Rory. If she pushed him away right now, he probably wouldn't seek her advice about Rory anymore and, God only knew what blunder would he make then.
''I would like to say just one last thing because I am your sister and I can't help myself. It won't do you or Rory any good to suppress your emotions like this. It's going to come out eventually. For your sake, I hope it comes out civilly. When you are ready for it, if you need someone to talk about it, I want you to know I am here for you.''
Logan calmed himself down and looked at his sister. She was trying to help him.
''I know that Honor, Thank you. Now let's go, find your husband before he even forgets I am here.'' Logan got up from his Couch and looked at his sister for a second happily ''And Honor you, will be an amazing mother. You have had plenty of practice with me.''
''Thank you, baby brother.'' Honor said, her eyes misty again. Damn these hormones.
The next day at the office, Rory reached early to prep for the start of the week by organizing her files, folders, and desk. She followed this routine every Monday. Rory had just finished organizing everything and was going to get herself a cup of that delicious coffee, courtesy of Logan. Today she was pretty sure that she was going to see Logan at work. The first training session was scheduled at noon today, and she was quite sure that Logan would be there. She smiled at the thought and made her way to the break room.
''Morning Rory.'' Kevin was standing next to the coffee maker with a cup of coffee in his hand.
Rory startled. ''Kevin, I wasn't expecting anyone in yet.'' Rory looked at the time. ''You're early to work. But you are never early.'' Rory poured herself coffee.
''I knew you would be in early today and, I wanted to see how you were doing. You have been acting rather weirdly this past week.'' Kevin shrugged his shoulders.
''Okay.'' Rory said, distracted by taking the first sip of the coffee.
''Everything okay at home?'' Kevin asked.
Rory looked up at Kevin. To Rory, he seemed genuinely concerned. At that moment, Rory felt bad for ignoring Kevin all week. They were good friends. He had strong opinions but, he almost always seemed to realize his mistake and apologize later. Minus their sex on Friday night, nothing else had to change. She was sure that this was casual for him too so, it shouldn't be a problem. He would find someone else.
''Yeah, everything is okay, Kevin. I just had a very...busy week.'' Unusually exciting and distracting. With my ex working at the same place as me and all.
''How was your weekend? Do anything new?'' Kevin asked, trying to get Rory to open about her weekend.
''Nothing as such. I caught up on my reading, did my laundry. You know the usual.'' Rory shrugged her shoulders.
I thought she had something important lined up for Saturday and, that's why she couldn't have sex with me Friday night. He thought about bringing that up but, then he decided to hold back his thoughts.
''Oh, okay. I thought you must have a thing with your family.'' Kevin tried to prod more information out of her.
''Nope.'' Rory was still savoring every sip of her coffee, clueless to Kevin's attempts.
Change of strategy. Kevin leaned towards Rory and said seductively, ''You know our fun doesn't have to be limited to Friday Nights. It can happen any night of the week. Any time of the day, for that matter.
Rory flinched at that. ''Kevin, I think I was clear that what we had was casual.''
Shit! If I push her too much, she'll stop whatever we have going on too. ''I know, sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I was saying it because we missed this Friday.'' Kevin apologized.
''Well, about that I don't think we should...'' Rory was about to finish, telling Kevin that their Friday Night activities were off permanently when Tara came into the break room.
''Wow, you look so good. I guess my pain Saturday morning was worth it if us shopping that day made you look like a hot 25-year-old working at the top of Industry newspaper.'' Tara clapped her hands and admired her choice of clothes for Rory. For most of the clothes that Rory bought Saturday, Tara had to encourage her to buy them. Today Rory was wearing a nude pencil skirt, nude blouse with a nude blazer that fit her perfectly. It was incredibly stylish yet very Rory-like.
''What was wrong with the ones you already had.'' Kevin asked, trying to sound casual, although he was genuinely interested to know why she was suddenly shopping for new clothes.
Tara chose to answer this for Rory. ''You see, our Rory here has been trying a little too hard here to look good at the office lately. Hence, the new outfits.'' Tara looked mischievously at Rory.
''Tara, you told me I looked like a hag on some days and have been behind my back to buy new clothes ever since I joined the Times.'' Rory gesticulated.
Tara laughed and said, ''I know, I know. And might I add how good of a decision you made, finally listening to me because you look stunning in that.''
Rory got a little embarrassed and said, ''Thank you.''
''Yeah, you look amazing, Rory.'' Kevin added after looking at Rory once again.
''Thank you.'' Rory said.
Kevin thought she did look pretty good today. But he couldn't stop himself from wondering why she was suddenly trying so hard to look good at the office. Could there truly be a possibility of another guy? If she was trying hard to look good at the office, it must be someone from the Times.
Rory refilled her mug of coffee and another for Tara and made her way out of the break room, talking to Tara in hushed tones.
As soon as Rory and Tara left the office, Kevin slammed his fist on the counter and closed his eyes.
FUCK, I don't want to lose Rory when I am finally so close to getting her.
A/N- I really do think when we suppress our emotions too much, they erupt unexpectedly.
More Rory and Logan's interaction in the next chapter. I'll be waiting for your reviews on this chapter.