AN: I will start with disclosing that I did a half ass job of proofing this because I had so much fun writing this and just wanted to get it out...so please enjoy. The relationship between Rory and Dean will yoyo. They will try to get along, they will get along, and they will fight. It will be complicated and messy and it will never be the same from one moment to the next while they navigate their divorce. I am very proud of our girl Em tonight though, I think we see some growth. Please read, review and enjoy. I will say...and I am speaking for a few of us...the reviews keep us going. They tell us how you are feeling. We love to chat, so don't just review my work, review everyone who you like what they are doing. Tell us what you like? Do you like the descriptions? Do you like the OC's (hello, Jackson in Family Affairs...my kind of dude)! Has your opinion of a character changed? Do you find yourself sympathizing and relating with/to Abigail...it really, really, really keeps us going. For a sod update, we have about 2000 feet left to do and are getting a boatload of rain this week so maybe net week will be more sod, and Ontario will be moving to phase 2 of our reopening plan on Wednesday so we can "legally" have 5 people in a house and our stores/restaurants are slowly starting to open. I am hoping to get another chapter out by Wednesday/Thursday OR the Everything Has Changed sequel...
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter Thirteen
Rory stood outside of the pool that Emma had been swimming at since she was barely a toddler. She saw the other parents waiting to pick up their kids and Rory tried to ignore the feeling. The stares, the two women Rory had known for years whispering a few feet away. Obviously news had travelled in some circles that Rory and Dean were no longer together, what Rory didn't know was exactly what details had made it out. Logan had offered to stay in the car and wait for them, even when Rory insisted that he should wait out front with her, he declined. He didn't want re-meeting Emma to become a circus. He didn't need spectators and he didn't want Emma to feel uncomfortable. The truth was, he could handle spectators. His life had been full of them, but Emma didn't need that, and she deserved better than that from the adults in her life. So he had waited in the car in a more secluded area of the parking lot so Rory could bring her to the car and they would have their re-introductions there.
Rory exhaled as she saw Emma come out with her black duffle bag on her shoulder, "hey!"
"Hi Mom," Emma smiled and offered her mother the bag like it was any other day and Rory was picking her ups from practice.
"How was your practice? Did you do…lots of laps?" Rory laughed awkwardly. It was hard to gauge the success of a swim practice, and even harder when you weren't particularly athletically inclined.
Emma laughed awkwardly and shrugged, "I guess."
"Come on," Rory nodded to the BMW a few hundred yards away. Rory and Logan had talked about it on the ride, they were going to replace her car and Logan was going to replace his. He had always driven a coupe while Abigail drove an SUV and they had a driver when necessary, but with three kids between the two of them it was clear that he would need a sedan and Rory would need at least a mid-sized SUV if they were ever going to do anything that didn't require a car service. "I know this is weird," Rory began as they closed in on the car, "but Em…I promise he is a good person and he makes me happy…"
Emma shrugged her shoulders in response. She wasn't sure what else to say as they reached the car and Rory opened the back hatch, and put the bag in. "Do I…" Emma gestured vaguely, she wasn't sure what to do next. Did she knock on the window and say hello…did she hop in? Was she supposed to hug him?
Rory smiled as she closed the trunk, "just get in," she told her as though there was nothing remotely different about what was happening. Rory waited a moment for Emma to get in the car and then she got in the passenger seat. "Emma," Rory began as Logan twisted around from the front seat and smiled warmly, "this is Logan…my…."
"Boyfriend," Emma finished for her after a somewhat awkward pause.
"Yes, my boyfriend."
"Hi," Emma kept her lips closed but attempted to smile ever so slightly.
"Nice to see you again," Logan felt his cheeks puffing up a bit as he attempted to keep things natural. He knew how weird this must be. Hell, he remembered when Colin would meet the various women his father was dating and how strange that had always been. On one hand, he hoped that he wouldn't become one of the many men that Rory introduced Emma to, but he understood that it was uncomfortable. "How was your practice?"
"Fine," Emma shrugged.
Logan took the cue and turned back to the front seat. He put the car into gear and looked at Rory to tell him where to head next. "Is Harleys ok?" Rory turned and asked Emma as they pulled out of the parking spot.
"Sure."
Rory fought the urge to say something to her daughter. To remind her that she had been raised with manners and that engaging in basic pleasantries wasn't too much to ask, but just before she could say it, Logan made eye contact and shook his head. Rory smiled at him, she appreciated his willingness to be patient, obviously she wanted Emma to get to know him, to really get to know them but she had to wait and do it on Emma's terms.
The trip to the restaurant from the pool was quick and Rory was thankful that as they were seated and Emma removed her jacket, she had worn appropriate attire for the night. She didn't expect Emma to be dressed like she was giving an interview for something, but she was relieved to see that she was wearing a long sleeved dress with leggings underneath. Often when the kids left the pool they were in various forms of pyjamas or sweatpants, brightly coloured leggings…it would'e just been one more thing for Rory and her pre-teen daughter to bicker about on an already high stakes evening.
"So," Logan was the first to speak, Rory was very clearly unsure how to handle this and Emma…well, Emma was the kid in the situation and the adults involved needed to remember that. "I looked up the menu before we came, I've never been here before and I thought the burger sounded good. But you two have been here and so tell me… does the burger suck?"
"I hate the burger," Rory admitted. She preferred the stuffed chicken breast on the menu, but there was a part of Rory that would still die on the hill that her stepfather made the best burgers.
"You just hate the burger because you like Grandpa's burgers," Emma challenged and then lowered her voice slightly, "I really like the burger…or the prime rib."
"Prime rib? I'm impressed…"
"My Dad likes it," Emma responded quickly. She felt instant relief when the server announced himself and the table placed their drink orders. She watched as her mother leaned in to say something to Logan. She was confirming that Logan was going to drive home and that she was going to have a martini, Logan and Emma both ordered a Coke. Normally Logan would've had no problem having a drink, or even two and driving home but he didn't do that with his own children in the car and he wouldn't be doing it with Emma either.
"What is your favourite food?" Logan asked. He didn't want the girl to feel like she was being interrogated but he also wanted to show an interest, and he wasn't above trying to get into her good graces by stocking the pantry with things she might like when she visited even if her mother had told him it wasn't necessary.
"Lasagna," Emma told him.
"Can you believe that Emily Gilmore served lasagna because this one asked for it?" Rory smirked.
"Well that is a sight I would need photographic evidence of," Logan laughed, "I can't imagine her enjoying anything but salmon puffs…"
"Grandma does have the best caterers," Rory laughed.
Emma looked between the two adults. She could see that they were enjoying the evening, and although she wouldn't admit it, he was enjoying it too. It was a side of her mother she didn't see often. Her mom felt lighter. More willing to laugh, she smiled more. "You know Grandma Emily?" She looked at Logan.
Logan nodded, "my parents and your great grandparents are old friends, so I knew your Grandma Emily and Grandpa Richard years ago…"
"But you didn't know my Mom?"
Logan shook his head, "no. Your mom went to Harvard and I went to Yale…I was older than her…"
"You just met at work?"
Rory nodded, "we met when I started working in publishing." Rory wanted to direct the conversation away from this. She would tell Emma more over time about the start of her relationship with Logan, but she didn't want to do it in a restaurant and she wanted to wait until things were a bit more settled in their lives.
"So…"
Evidently the lag in conversation hadn't gone unnoticed by the pre-teen. "How was school today?" Rory's nerves were dissipating as an appetizer arrived. She had ordered truffle fries to start that she knew Emma loved and once they were all doing something more than staring at each other, things seemed to come more easily.
"Easy," Emma told her. "I have a book report I need to pick a book for, so that should be cool."
Rory smiled, she loved that while Emma had many features, habits and tendencies from her father, she also had many from her mother. "That sounds fun! What book are you thinking?"
"We have to choose from a couple. I think maybe To Kill a Mockingbird or something."
Logan watched the interaction and gave his head a small shake as he chuckled, "I don't think I was ever excited about doing a book report when I was in school…"
Rory smiled and Emma laughed as he popped a fry into his mouth. "Something tells me you barely made it to class."
Logan moved his head from side to side and smirked. As he had gotten older he had realized how much he didn't want his own children to know about some of his own youthful indiscretions for fear of them repeating history, but he also knew that no one would believe he was a science nerd spending his lunch in a lab. "I moved around from school to school when I was a little bit older than you."
"Why?"
"Em," Rory gave her a warning look.
"It's fine Ace," Logan answered without even thinking. As soon as the pet name left his lips his eyes darted to Emma who seemed to take it in stride, just staring at him waiting for a bit more understanding of how or why he got moved from school to school. "I didn't really like school when I was younger, so I used to play pranks and not do the work and not follow the rules."
"So you were a…" Emma paused to think of the appropriate word, "like a bad kid?" Emma looked to her mother, "like that Ryan kid from my school?"
"I think," Rory paused. She hadn't heard many stories of when Logan was younger, but she had heard of his escapades at Yale and while he wasn't the greatest student necessarily, Rory didn't think that he had reached the level of Ryan Bailey who had been caught trying to light squirrels on fire. "Logan didn't like doing school work, he was a bit more of a joker and he did silly things…Ryan is dangerous and there is a difference."
"I can assure you," Logan took a sip of his coke, "I never lit an animal on fire…or purposely harmed one for that matter."
"You just didn't like school…how did you know what you wanted to do? My mom says she knew from when she was a kid that she wanted to be a journalist…"
"And we shouldn't forget that I am not in fact a journalist…"
"You aren't now but you work in journalism," Logan countered, "and you were a fantastic reporter and editor…I have that on good authority," he smiled sweetly at Rory and then turned to her daughter, "your Mom is really good at her job. My job…well…I think I'm pretty good at it now, but I didn't really get a choice. This was always going to be my job, and for a while when I was a bit older than you…closer to my son Noahs age, I did just about everything I could to avoid doing what was expected of me…that resulted in being kicked out of more than a few schools over the years."
Emma didn't say anything else as the meals came out and the group once again was preoccupied with food in front of them. Logan thought dinner was going well. Maybe not perfectly, but at the very least Emma was engaging in conversation. He knew from experience with his own kids that sometimes that was pretty much all you could ask for. Emma had asked Logan a bit about where he had travelled to over the years. She lamented that she wished she could travel but didn't quite have a grasp on how her age might make her parents hesitant to take her all over the world. Logan for his part tried to tell her she would appreciate the experiences when she was a bit older, and while she was reluctant to accept that explanation, she seemed to acknowledge he might be on to something. Rory got to play the parent card when she declared that it was too late for dessert and she had to get Emma back to the house as per the agreement with her father. Logan smiled when Rory reached to hold his hand as they made their way to the car, and if Emma noticed, she didn't seem to be bothered.
"You're going to be gone next weekend?" Emma asked, neither Logan or Rory were sure if she was asking because she wanted him to be gone or if she wanted him to be there.
"I am," Logan told her as they drove, Rory was quietly pointed out the directions to her old house. While he had been before, years earlier, before the affair, and a few times to pick her up for work events once they were seeing each other, he had never driven there himself in the dark. "I have a work trip, but my kids are going to come and we're going to have fun."
"Mom you don't have to go?" Emma couldn't begin to count how many business trips her mother had been on where it had casually been mentioned that her boss would be with her. Not all of them, but certainly there had been a lot. Emma couldn't help but wonder if that had been all lies. If her mother had simply been using it as an excuse to get away from her and her father to be with the man she would eventually leave her family for.
Rory shook her head as she looked into the back seat, "no. I'm home. I don't have any trips until the end of March."
Emma nodded and looked out the window. The drive was almost over and she was looking forward to being at home. She needed to decompress. She needed to take in the events of the evening…Logan had been nice. She wasn't sure what she had expected. Sure she remembered him as a friend of her parents years earlier, she remembered him as being nice…but now he was in her life as something different. Her father didn't exactly hide his disdain for him, and clearly her mother cared for him, and then there was Emma…somewhere in the middle. "Can I leave any of my stuff at your house?" Emma asked hesitantly as the car pulled into the driveway.
Rory answered first, "of course babe, it will be your space too."
Emma didn't respond. She was hoping for an answer from Logan. She knew what her mom would have to say about it. "Whatever you want to leave there, you can leave there. Or if you want something, you can let your mom know and we can get it for you. Once you come, I'll make sure your mom tells you where to leave what you want for groceries and snacks and we can make sure we have it. This is your home too."
Emma fought the urge to smile. If that had been a test, Logan would have passed it. That was of course part of her fear of course, she may not have fully understood the fear, but she feared that her mother was moving on with two new kids and a new guy…to know that she was welcome there, to know that she was to embrace it as her own…it was comforting. "Are you going to walk me in?" Emma asked. She wasn't exactly sure how this all worked now in regards to her parents and the house that had once been the family home.
Logan put the car in park and Rory nodded her head, "I can," she told her as the two of them unbuckled their seatbelts. Logan stayed in the car and said goodbye. He wasn't looking to have a confrontation with Dean after what had happened with the lawyer earlier in the week. "I'll grab your bag. You go ahead," Rory told Emma. Once she had retrieved the black duffle bag from the trunk she took a deep breath as they walked up the path to the house. She could see a couple of lights on in the house, the lights were off in the garage which meant Dean was likely inside and that was confirmed when he appeared at the front door to let Emma in. "Alright Em, I will pick you up next Friday after school, ok?"
Emma nodded and took the bag from her mom. "Thank you."
"I love you kiddo," Rory smiled as she ran inside. Of course there was a part of Rory that felt like a piece of heart was leaving, but she knew they would be back together soon. "Do you have a minute?" Rory inhaled as she looked at Dean who was towering over her at the door. "Please?"
"I don't have time," Dean grumbled, he didn't move though. He just looked at her. She looked different…she looked lighter, she looked happier…he just hated that there was no world where she could have been happier with him.
"Dean…please…I just…" Rory exhaled and looked back at the car where Logan was waiting for her. "I don't expect us to be best friends, but I would really like if we could be civil." Rory wasn't going to grasp for getting along or agreeable because she knew that was unlikely…but she needed to know that for the sake of their daughter, even if the divorce was a mess, even if they hated each other…they could exist in the same space.
"You what Rory?" Dean stepped outside and let the door close behind him. Rory instinctively took a step back, he stood on the porch now and she was on walkway three stairs and a few feet away.
"I just want us to be able to talk when it comes to Emma. I don't want to talk about the legal stuff or the divorce stuff…but I want to be able to talk when it comes to our daughter and I want her to feel comfortable talking to us…"
"Emma can always talk to me…"
Rory paused for a moment. "We had a good time tonight Dean…for the first time since all of this, Em and I felt…normal. I know you are probably thinking how it is my fault that things haven't been normal and you would be right," Dean nodded his head as she spoke. "But don't you want her to be able to tell you that? I want her to be able to tell me what she does with you. I want her to feel comfortable saying 'Mom, I need to get Dad a birthday gift,'…so I'm just…I'm asking for us to tolerate each other enough for that. I'm sorry about what I said to you the other day…I was just so angry with you. It feels like you are coming for everything you claimed never mattered to you…"
Dean ran a hand through his brown hair and exhaled. "Was it true?" He nodded to the car and squinted. He wasn't completely sure he wanted the answer to the question. "You just…how could you just lie to me and carry on with your weekend like I wasn't waiting at home for you?"
"We didn't have sex in the car," Rory told him. "I should go. Have a good week."
As she walked down the path towards the car Dean felt a tightness in his chest that had become familiar as of late. It was like he couldn't control himself when it came to her. He could want to keep things civil one second and the next he was full of complete rage over it. "But the rest…"
Rory turned and gave him a sympathetic smile. "The rest was true."
xxx
Rory was pacing. Logan had gone down to meet his friends for drinks before the wedding started and Rory had declined. She had gone back and forth far too many times about her outfit, ultimately deciding on a Ted Baker piece featuring long black sleeves and a pleated dark green skirt with some sheer details on the skirt and a pair of black pumps and a black clutch, Logan of course hadn't been much help when he had assured her that it was laid back, but still a wedding…of course it was easy to say that when you could pull out one of your dozens of designer suits and look great in them. Rory had curled her hair loosely and applied light makeup, and then she had paced. Logan would be back any minute and she knew that. She also knew that these were the people in life that Logan was closest to. She had met a few of his friends over the years, not many and it was always hush hush, but she had never met the bride and she couldn't help but wonder if maybe she should have stayed home. Logan however had insisted that she should come. He had told her that they would love her and that this would be the perfect opportunity to blend in. From what she had heard bursting from the other guest rooms on the property where only twenty close friends were staying, she would do anything but fit in.
Logan basically bounced back into the room, smiling as he saw Rory who had come to a near immediate stop at the sound of the door opening. "You ready?" He asked looked at his Mont Blanc watch and then closed the gap between them, pulling her in for a passionate and playful kiss, "come on, it's time to go down!"
Rory smiled, she could taste the scotch on his lips and she could tell that he was just buzzed enough to have forgotten exactly why this was terrifying for her. "How are your friends?" Rory smiled as she grabbed her purse. She quickly checked that her phone was on silent before she allowed him to escort her out of the room. She could see his smile out of the corner of his eye. The goofy, playful grin he got when he was truly relaxed and having fun. He wasn't thinking about work or worrying about his kids or planning something that just had to happen…he was simply relaxed. "I see you didn't have time to shave?" Rory smiled as they came to a stop outside of the enclosed porch which was holding the intimate ceremony. There was no obvious seating, just small groups standing around an aisle and a few servers passing trays of champagne to the guests.
"I thought you liked the stubble?"
Rory put her hand on his cheek and her thumb stroked his lips gently, "I love the stubble, but we are at a wedding."
"That you are," Honor interrupted the pair by making her presence known beside her brother, "so please don't be so damned lovey lovey…some of us aren't in the honeymoon phase," she tried to keep things light. She hadn't met Rory in her official capacity yet and while she might have considered Abigail a dear friend and a sister, she would always be open to whatever made her brother happy. "I see Juliet still knows how to throw a wedding. Very low key…"
Logan embraced his sister once Rory had brought her hand away from him. "When did you get here? We were just having drinks…"
"Well Josh and I weren't one of those chosen ones who got to stay here," Honor gestured around them, "so we just got bussed in from the hotel like commoners…"
"Bussed…really?"
"Well it was a limo bus but the word bus was still in there so…"
Logan fought the urge to roll his eyes as he stopped a passing waiter and grabbed two flutes of champagne, handing one to Rory and then Honor and then grabbing a third for himself. "Hon, you remember Rory Gilmore?"
"Of course I do, we saw each other at Christmas." Honor raised her glass to Rory who nervously clinked her flute against it, "you look beautiful. Who is this dress by?"
"Thank you," Rory nervously tucked a hair behind her ear after she sipped the champagne. She thought for a moment maybe she should have accompanied Logan down for drinks, it might'e made these introductions earlier. "It…it is Ted Baker. I've had it for a while. You look great too…I mean that blue… it is just…wow!"
Honor smiled at the compliment. Of course the Alice + Olivia bustier jumpsuit had been tailored to fit her perfectly, but hearing it from someone else never hurt. "Thank you! I wasn't sure what to wear. I'm sure you've heard, this isn't our first trip down the aisle with our dearest Juliet, but this one feels right…the jumpsuit and the fiancé," Honor joked.
Rory felt a bit of relief as she took another sip of the drink, at the very least Honor wasn't showing any outward signs of hating her. "It's a beautiful venue."
Logan put his right hand on the small of her back as they spoke and Josh, Honor's husband appeared a moment later. Logan made polite introductions and a couple of minutes later it became clear that they were going to get started soon. "Third time's a charm?" Logan looked to his sister who shushed him.
"You know we aren't supposed to talk about that here," another woman joined the conversation with a group of three men and a red headed woman. Rory knew the men as Colin, Finn and Robert but she didn't have a clue who the women were. "I'm Stephanie, old friend of your beau here."
Rory smiled and extended a hand, "nice to meet you. I'm Rory Gilmore, I'm here with…well you called him my beau so I assume you know him."
"Rory, good to see you," Colin interrupted and kissed her cheek. "Hopefully you've had a few drinks in you now because something tells me that Juliet is going to cry through this one."
The woman Rory had just met, Stephanie, playfully swatted at Colin and rolled her eyes. "Don't be an ass Colin. She is happy."
"She was happy when she married the last two too…"
"Stop," the other woman warned, she seemed to be simply ignoring the existence of Rory as she chastised the group of men who were now giggling.
Rory felt Logan's fingers dance across her back as if to reassure her as they all stood in a group. It was clear of course as she listened to them talk that she was the outlier here. Seemingly all of them had been to Juliet's previous weddings as they talked about the decor, the venues, the dresses, the guests. This was evidently the smallest of the affairs and everyone agreed that Juliet knew how to throw a party.
Honor was the first to bring Rory out of her trance of simply watching and listening, a skill she had mastered when she was a reported. "Rosemary, I don't believe you said hello to Rory?" Honor smiled sweetly and there was just enough of a forcefulness to her voice to make it clear that Honor was making her allegiance known. "Rory this is our old friend Rosemary, she went to college with the gang here, but we've known her forever."
"Nice to meet you," Rosemary extended a hand, her red hair was curled and long. "I've heard so much."
Again, the tone said more than the words ever could have as Honor shot another glare to the woman. "Nice to meet you too," Rory smiled, trying to ignore the tension in the air. "Winter weddings can be so lovely."
"Did you get married in the winter?" Rosemary asked. The response by everyone in the group was immediate. Backs stiffened and glances were thrown from person to person as Rosemary seemingly revelled in the discomfort while she took a drink.
Rory kept the polite smile on her face despite that nauseous feeling coming back. "No, it wasn't…but no wedding of mine would ever compare to this. My wedding was…well," Rory explained. "Many years ago…long before Pinterest came along…it was very simple."
"No one would ever accuse Juliet of simple," Honor spoke once again. She was making a point of course as she stood tall beside Rory and looked at their old friend. This was not the time, or the place, and while no one was particularly happy with how things had happened between Logan and Abigail, they weren't going to air their grievances at a wedding and use Rory as target practice.
Logan felt his jaw clenching ever so slightly. It wasn't lost on him that Rosemary actually hadn't like Abigail for most of their relationship. Now, her reasons for not liking Abigail were ridiculous and stemmed mostly from the fact that Abigail was tall, blonde and gorgeous… Logan was always aware of the eyes on his wife when she had walked into a room. And so between being an attractive woman who took eyes off of Rosemary, and being a newbie to the group of them, Rose hadn't been particularly welcoming until Abigail had proven that she was in it for the long haul around ten years into the marriage. Logan leaned in to Rory and placed a quick kiss behind her ear. His voice was low as the music started and Billy Joel's Just The Way You Are started playing, "you look beautiful, I love you."
Rory leaned into him and smiled. The tension in the group seemed to dissipate as she saw a woman seemingly float into the space wearing a pale blue tulle gown with a v neck and a keyhole back that Rory was certain she could never pull off after having a child, she knew that Logan would tell her differently of course. The chords of the music lulled Rory against his body, and while at first she had thought it was weird that they were all standing, Rory soon realized that she was barely amongst thirty people, and so the decision to stand around the couple suddenly seemed a lot more intimate. Rory listened as the bride, Juliet, spoke to her groom and the officiant who seemed to be a friend made jokes and everyone chuckled. Rory saw as a few tears came to Rosemary's eyes and suddenly Rory was very aware that she was involved I a very intimate moment for these people and she had a whole new appreciation for Logan and his decision to bring her there. He could have suggested they wait, after all, Rory had suggested they wait to come out, but no, Logan was bringing her into their group…and while she could tell it might be an uphill battle, it was clearly a battle that Logan was willing to have and at the very least Rory could see that she had Honor on her side and the majority of the crew seemed neutral at worst. Rory watched Logan next as the couple said their vows. She watched as his lips curved upwards and his eyes sparkled a bit as they spoke. His eyes were beyond expressive. She could see that he was happy for his friend, and she could see once again that he was just happy in that moment.
Of course Rory had been to a lot of weddings over the years, but as the bride and groom kissed and Finn loudly called for everyone to drink and the small group cheered, Rory took a sip of her champagne and she couldn't help but think this might have been the best wedding she had ever been to. As the bride and groom came back down the aisle, Logan pulled Rory in for a kiss, the champagne was still lingering on his lips as they pulled apart and Rory told him she loved him.
The group had moved inside almost immediately, the old house had been decorated to the nines with romantic candles and lighting, Rory noticed immediately the smell in the space had changed while they had been outside. Everything was classic and elegant, there was a pianist playing in the corner and a beautiful Asian woman wearing a stunning champagne coloured dress singing beside the piano. Logan had taken her champagne flute a moment earlier and put it on a tray to be taken away and the group had reassembled in the reception space while Juliet and her new bride had some photos taken.
"That was beautiful," Rory was the first to speak. "She sure knows how to do a wedding."
Honor nodded her head in agreement while she took a sip of her not yet finished champagne. "Yes, she certainly does. You'll have to come to her Easter party…who knew an Easter egg hunt could be so much fun," Honor laughed. "But seriously…she is happier than I think I have ever seen her, wouldn't you agree?" She nodded to one of the other women, Stephanie, who Rory had met earlier in the day.
"It's sickening," Stephanie smiled, "but so well deserved."
Rory listened to the conversation for a moment and took her chance to speak when the conversation lulled, "does she have any kids?" Rory was aware of the fact that there were no children present but a couple of older teens were there.
Rosemary laughed, not at Rory, it was a genuine laugh, as though the idea of Juliet having children was in fact funny. "No, she swore she wouldn't ever have children for fear they ruin her figure, and surprisingly she has stuck to that."
Rory laughed, she had certainly known a few women like that in her life and sometimes when she saw their lives, she wondered if they might've been on to something. Especially during the phases where there was no sleep, mountains of diapers and the exorbitant cost of childcare. "Well as long as she is happy," Rory smiled.
"Exactly, and she is the best Auntie you cold ever imagine," Rosemary seemed to be trying at the very least.
"And how about you?" Rory asked, "any kids? I have a daughter. She is 12…Emma."
Rosemary shook her head, "not for lack of Finn trying," she joked. "But no, I've never really settled down, and while I know I just declared Juliet as the best Auntie, it isn't because I don't try. But the kids tell me she is more fun…at least until they want someone to buy them alcohol and I am the one they want…"
Rory laughed. She knew that Colin was married, he had a two year old at home and she assumed that is where his wife was. She had never met his wife, simply heard about her in passing. Finn was happily single and Robert was dating his secretary and Logan had been told that Juliet had forbade him from bringing her because of her behaviour at the last event that she attended with the group.
"Come on," Logan took Rory by the hand and pulled her towards him, "I want to show you something!"
"Logan!" Rory glared at him once they were a few steps away from the group, he was moving at much too quick a pace for her heels and she stopped to slow him down, "I was talking to her…"
"And I wanted to show you something," Logan shrugged. "Rose won't remember."
"Well she already didn't like me…"
"Rose hates everyone new, don't take it personally. She hated Abigail for at least ten years of our marriage…"
"Is that supposed to be reassuring?" Rory countered as Logan began walking again but this time Rory managed to keep up as they made it through a door and to the wrap around porch that she had admired on their way in that morning. "Wow," Rory breathed.
Logan stood as Rory walked to the railing and looked out at the snow covered property. It was beautiful, and this was the opposite side of the building that they had walked into so this part was untarnished. There were no footsteps in the snow, there was no slush anywhere, it was just crisp white snow. He walked over and put his arms around her body and Rory leaned against him. "Thank you for coming. I know this is hard." He nuzzled into her neck and inhaled the scent of her Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue perfume.
"I doubt they'll be giving me an award for miss popular," Rory exhaled, "but I'm glad I'm here too. It's nice to see you relaxed, with your people…"
"You are my people," Logan countered as they heard music starting to play and instead of moving to back inside, Logan simply pulled away slightly and then extended a hand to Rory.
"We can't," Rory shook her head as the words to At Last by Etta James started playing and Rory could only assume a window was open somewhere, or the music was piped somewhere onto the balcony from the sound system inside.
"Why?" Logan countered as Rory put her arms around his neck slowly and his went to her waist. Of course they both knew how to dance…but instead they were two bodies swaying together and listening to nothing except the music.
Oh, yeah, yeah, at last
The skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped in a clover
The night I looked at you
Rory let her head rest on Logan's shoulder as they continued. Her fingers were playing with his hair as they seemingly clung to each other. Rory wasn't sure what to say as they danced. She wanted to say something. She wished she could think of something profound, something romantic…but all she could do was enjoy the moment.
"Are you happy?" Logan asked as they continued to dane. Rory looked up at him with a bit of confusion in her eyes. "Was it worth it…was I worth it?"
Rory nodded and kissed him gently. There weren't the appropriate words that she could use to tell him just how worth it he was. She wasn't sure how to tell him that he was what she needed. She was happier with him than she thought she ever had been before and while she would never be proud of how she had hurt her daughter, she had never been happier than she was with him. "Always."
When the song ended the pair reluctantly went inside. There was no sit down meal but instead there were plenty of passed trays with various different bite sized comfort food and delicacies. Logan brought them back to his group of friends where Rory once again found herself listening to the conversations, absorbing a different side of Logan than she had really seen before. Sure she had spent some time with him, Colin and Finn but not much, and certainly none where there were seemingly no rules about what could or couldn't be said. She had never seen any of them so free. "I'm going to grab a drink," Rory whispered to Logan who in turn grabbed her by the waist and pulled her in for a searing kiss. There were comments of course from the boys and Rory felt her cheeks flush as he let her go, leaving her to meander to the bar where she saw Rosemary chatting with a couple of people she didn't quite recognize. Rory was close enough to hear what she was saying and while she hadn't thought why were best friends, she didn't really expect to a hear a grown woman talking about her behind her back.
"She is beautiful," Rose stated in a note even remotely hushed tone, "but you remember Abigail. The woman could've been a supermodel. I don't know…she has her own money, she's wearing Ted Baker and did you see that ring on her finger? That is clearly an heirloom…" Rory was essentially frozen as she listened for another moment, she couldn't decide if she was offended. Rosemary wasn't being rude. She wasn't calling her names…but it was clear she thought Abigail was a better partner for Logan for some reason or another. "I just don't get it…beautiful wife, two beautiful children and a wonderful life…and now she has a daughter of her own and an ex-husband…sure she's beautiful and smart, that much is clear…but I don't get it."
"Here," Juliet pulled Rory away and handed her a champagne flute. They hadn't been formally introduced but Rory knew from having seen Juliet float down the aisle not an hour earlier that this was the bride. "Rosemary can be a bitch when things change. She is harmless, and she will come around…just…ignore her. I'm Juliet. You're Rory?"
Rory nodded and took the champagne flute, "thank you," she nodded. "Rory Gilmore…congratulations by the way…this is," she looked at the space and then nodded to the beautiful gown Juliet was wearing, "you look so beautiful and so happy. I'm really glad I came."
"Tell me you believe me," Juliet ignored her comment. "That Rose is just a bitch…and I can say that, I am her best friend. She was maid of honour at my first two weddings..."
"I mean…" Rory wasn't really prepared to call a virtual stranger a bitch right out of the gate. "She is entitled to her opinion…I guess she just thinks that Logan and Abigail were a better pair…" Rory let her voice drift off at the thought. They had been so wrapped up in their own little world these past few weeks, there hadn't been much consideration for whether or not they were in fact more suited for each other than their spouses were. I mean, it was easy for Rory to know that Logan was a better fit for her than Dean had ever been…but Abigail…
"She is wrong." Juliet said it like it was a fact, like there was nothing else worth considering. "I have known Logan most of my life and aside from when his children were born, I haven't seen him this happy. I mean, I know we weren't supposed to know about the circumstances of you two…but he is happiest with you. So speaking for myself," Juliet shrugged, "I think you're pretty great."
"You just met me…"
"He trusts you," Juliet shrugged. "And you know…I've been married three times," she giggled as they both took a sip of their drink. Rory wasn't really sure what she was supposed to say in response to that, "and Logan has come to each wedding and he has been kind and stoic and lovely…but this is the first time he has told me how happy I look. So even if something can be beautiful and fun and nice…none of those things matter if you aren't happy."
Rory felt her smile grow. "Thank you."
"Come on, we need to go find him. He owes me a dance and I'm sure Finn will want to take you for a spin!"
Rory laughed as she drank the rest of her champagne, she was certainly starting to feel the buzz as she followed Juliet back to the group of men. She gave Logan a kiss as Juliet pulled him onto the dance floor and just as she had warned, Finn offered Rory a hand, "well how can I say no!"
"Saying no to the most attractive man in the room would certainly be a cry for help," Finn grinned. "But you have to let me lead."
"I hate leading," Rory rolled her eyes as Finn took her onto the dance floor. She wasn't sure what they were dancing to but it wasn't a romantic song and but it also wasn't cause for Rory to show off her spazy dance moves.
They danced for a moment, Finn pointing out various people or making comparisons to the other weddings he had attend for Juliet before he asked what he had been waiting to ask. "So what do you think…the gang is all here?" His accent seemed to get thicker the more he drank and Rory almost struggled to understand him for a moment due to her inebriated state.
"The gang doesn't seem to love me," Rory noticed Rosemary keeping an eye on them. To be fair it was only Rosemary who seemed to take issue with Rory. Juliet had been lovely, so had Stephanie and Colin, Finn and Robert had been kind. Honor was at least willing to get to know her and if there was anyone there who had a reason for disliking her, it would probably be Honor.
"Rose is a bitch," Finn told her, "she doesn't like change. She doesn't like new people. When her salon changed the type of shampoo they used she damn near burnt the place down…"
Rory laughed, "you can't be serious."
"I am as serious as a heart attack love, and I'm telling you not to take what she thinks seriously. Just enjoy yourself. Once you two are done being holed up in that apartment having sex all the time you can come and hang out with us again and you can get to know everyone…and I can assure you that Rosemary will fall victim to your charms just like our boy Logan has."
"Stop flirting Finn," Logan interrupted them a moment later. Rory could see that Juliet was dancing with her new husband as Logan cut in. "May I?"
"Well I guess I can't compete with him, now can I?" Finn asked as the song slowed.
"Thank you Finn," Rory gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Are you having fun yet?" Logan asked as Rory leaned against him, he could tell she was a bit beyond tipsy at this point and he expected they would be heading to bed soon.
"I love weddings," Rory purred into his ear. "They're so romantic. With all the twinkly lights. I like twinkly lights," she giggled. "But if we ever get married it might just be us and Honor and Lane and Paul Anka…"
"Paul Anka?" Logan repeated.
"Paul Anka the second…my moms dog. Well maybe he's the third…because there is human Paul Anka. But he would like you…the dog…you have kind eyes. But Rosemary…Rosemary hates me…so it would be a small crowd."
"You seem to think Rose has a pretty big pull?" Logan laughed. "Ace, don't worry about anyone else. All that matters is us. You and me, our kids…"
"Logan…"
"Yes dear."
"I'm sleepy."
"Come on," Logan maneuvered so his arm was on her waist and now they were walking out of the reception space. "Lets go to bed."