Rory looked up at him and in barely a whisper said, "I love you too. I always have." She kissed him softly on the lips while he wrapped his arms around her, so tightly that she was certain she would have organ damage.
Logan was elated. He loved her and she loved him back. And then she said, "But it's more complicated than that."
Logan sighed. And his elation came to a screeching halt. "Why? Why does it have to be more complicated than that?" This woman was an emotional rollercoaster for him.
Rory sat back in her seat and folded her hands in her lap. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths.
Logan whispered in the darkness. "There's someone else?" He looked over at her and she squeezed her eyes shut. "There's always someone else." He rubbed his face with his palms. He looked at her as she shrank back into the corner between her seat and the window. "Is it Paul?"
That surprised her and she asked, "What do you know about Paul?"
He replied, "Once you asked me to hand you your phone. There was a reminder that said, 'Dinner with Paul – Don't forget.' I never forgot."
Rory took a deep breath. "No. Paul is no longer in the picture."
"So who? The wookie? Any other random George Lucas characters? Is there a pikachu who has captured your heart?" His eyes were liquid with disappointment.
She shook her head vehemently. "No, no, nothing like that."
Logan sighed. "Then what? Please talk to me." She turned to stare out of the window. He put his hand on her shoulder. "Ace, it's me. There is nothing you can say to me right now that will make me care about you any less. I promise." She turned about a quarter turn toward him. He asked, "Do you need an alibi or something?"
She turned back to him and gave him a small grin. "No, but thanks."
He took her hand. "Whatever it is. Just say it. It will be okay."
She began, "Okay, so... I really was going to call you once I got to London."
He chewed on the inside of cheek. "You were?"
"Logan, I promise I don't want to blow up your life. And I'm not expecting anything at all."
He put his arm around her, pulling her into his side. He looked sideways at her. "Ace, are you okay?"
She nodded. "I'm okay, but I'm pregnant." His mouth fell open. "Almost eight weeks." He closed his mouth to speak, but it fell open again.
He blinked a couple times and said, "It's been almost eight weeks since the last time I saw you – in New Hampshire."
She nodded. Then she faced him and cupped his face with her hand. "Are you okay?"
He broke out into a huge smile. "Yeah, I'm more than okay. Honestly, this is a dream come true."
She searched his face, looking for a punch line and found none. "Really?"
Logan nodded. "I've always imagined this with you actually."
"You're serious?"
"Rory, I asked you to marry me. I wanted to live with you, have kids with you and get old with you. How I feel about you has never, ever changed."
She was incredulous. "But you were engaged to someone else two months ago."
He shrugged. "But I've been in love with you for the past twelve years. Marriage is just a contract. You are my heart and soul." Her eyes widened and he added. "And apparently my 'baby momma."
They both burst out laughing. "Please don't ever say that again," she implored.
He chuckled softly. "Ok. But that doesn't make it any less true."
She playfully smacked him on the chest. She got serious for a second and asked, "You're really okay with this?"
"Ace, I don't remember the last time I was this happy. I promise." He smiled down at her and kissed her on the forehead. "Look, I know we have a lot to sort out, but we don't have to do it right this minute."
She asked him, "You sure?" He nodded. "Good, because I'm SO tired."
"Then rest," he said to her. He pulled her close and she snuggled into him.
She whispered in his ear, "I really do love you."
He replied, "And I think my heart is going to burst out of my chest right now, just hearing you say that." She turned her face up to look at him and he kissed her so very softly. "When we get to London, will you stay with me?"
She nodded and said, "Ok." She kissed him to punctuate the response.
"And will you not leave?" He bit his lip while waiting for her answer.
She looked deep into his warm brown eyes and asked, "Are we really doing this?"
He replied, "Finally. I finally have my girl back." He pulled her tight against his chest, closed his eyes and exhaled.
"Yours?" she asked.
"Mmm-hmmm," he murmured against her hair without opening his eyes.
"Just checking," she replied. "Logan?"
"Hmmm?" He asked in the same fashion as his last reply.
"We have so much to talk about and decide."
He nodded. "Yes, but we don't have to do it right now. Right now, we get to enjoy just being together for the next several hours." He sighed deeply, "And I get to relax and sleep like I only sleep when you're next to me."
She sighed in his arms. "Me too! I never sleep as good as I do when I'm with you. You feel like home." She waited a beat and then whispered in his ear, "If we were anywhere else right now…..," then she grazed his earlobe with her teeth.
He chuckled softly, "I know exactly what you mean. But this is still the best day ever."
She waited a few minutes and then took a deep breath. Logan asked, "What's wrong, Ace?"
"Are we really back together? Can we be?" She asked timidly.
"Yeah, if that's what you want." He looked at her carefully in the dark, never removing his arms from around her.
She nodded. "It really is. Honestly, I've wanted this for so long." She slid her arms around his neck and started playing with the short hair at the nape of his neck.
He cupped her face with both hands and kissed her in a long, sensuous kiss. "Me too. I've pretty much wanted this since the last time we were together." He squeezed her in a bear hug and said, "I've just missed you so much. There is nothing like being able to hold you and kiss you whenever I want."
Rory turned in her seat so that her legs were bent over Logan's lap and then rested her head against his chest. He reclined his seat a bit and held her against him. He ran his fingers through her hair until they both drifted off to sleep.
Rory woke up about four hours later, rather disoriented. She realized that she was on a flight and then she realized she was curled around Logan. Logan! Their whole conversation came back to her, and she was overwhelmed with joy. She was also overwhelmed with the need for the restroom. She tried to get up without disturbing him, but she was unsuccessful.
"Ace, you okay?" he asked sleepily.
"Yep. Just need the bathroom. I'll be right back." She kissed him on the cheek as she got up.
A few minutes later, Rory returned sipping on a ginger ale. She looked a little dazed and plopped in her seat. Logan inquired, "What's up?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. But morning sickness isn't as much fun as it sounds."
He winced and gave her a slight smile. "That sucks because it doesn't sound fun at all."
She responded, "And it isn't only in the morning."
"Oh no. How sick have you been?" he asked.
She made a face. "Some days more than others..."
"Ace, how long have you known?" he asked gently.
"Well, about three weeks after I saw you, I thought I had a stomach flu." She frowned and sipped her ginger ale. "But it hung around for a while. After about 10 days, I saw a doctor and found out."
Logan bit his lip. "So you've known for three weeks?" She nodded. "Did you consider telling me sooner?"
She nodded again. "Of course. I just had a lot to think about. You could have been married by now. And I had to decide what to do."
He stared at the floor. "You thought about never telling me." She simply nodded. "How could you do that?"
She replied, "I couldn't not tell you. I was on my way to London to talk to you. My mother's wedding just happened. I had to get through that and then I was going to talk to you."
He brushed his fingertips over her cheek. "Okay. I'm not going to pretend that I know what it feels like to be pregnant and all that goes with it."
She closed her eyes in relief. "Thank you."
"Are you feeling better yet?" he asked.
She nodded. "A bit, yes."
Logan wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close again. He kissed her on the temple and whispered, "I love you, Ace. And I already love the baby more than I ever thought possible."
She took a huge breath and exhaled as she leaned against him with her head on his shoulder. "I'm going to try to sleep a little more." He nodded as he rubbed her back gently. She pulled a travel blanket up over both of them and soon, they were both asleep again.