Title: Taking a header or staying the course
Author: Joy
A/N: Alright folks- here is your Logan / Rory talk you have been dying for.
Chapter 3: Not a weird hallucination
It was with a great deal of courage that Logan sat in Lorelai's kitchen waiting for Rory to get up. He didn't have to wait long once the coffee's aroma drifted into her room. "Mom, you are the best. Thank you for braving Lu..." Rory stopped mid-sentence staring at a different looking Logan Huntzberger sitting at her kitchen table.
"It is from Luke's," he said calmly. "I agree with you that it is the best coffee on the planet. He won't tell me how, but I didn't really expect him to. Then again I will have a chance to try to charm it out of him during Gilmore movie night."
Rory blinked several times, walked around the table, picked up the coffee and drank it down. She opened her eyes again and sat down across from him with a confused look on her face. "I have had coffee and its still you, so this isn't a weird hallucination."
"No...I'm here."
"Question is why. We settled things last night."
Logan shook his head, "No, you let your fears about me swallow you and you ran. I took stock of what you said...most, if not all, were good points. I decided that I needed to take the opportunity to change the course of my destiny somewhat in order to have something to offer you this morning."
"I haven't had enough coffee for this," she murmured shaking her head slightly before grabbing his cup.
He smirked producing another cup of coffee from the floor beside his chair where Lorelai had suggested he hide it. "I have talked to my father about how things were headed for me as to avoid that inevitability we both want to shun. I have dug my jeans out of my closet to wear for this excursion. I came by neither limo nor car...but by the public bus. I..."
"Excuse me...did you just say you rode the bus?" Rory questioned.
"I did."
"Why?"
Logan sighed, took her hand, and touched the top lightly before moving a seat closer to her. "Do you remember last night telling me that you loved me?" She tried to turn her head but he stilled the motion gently with gentle fingers caressing her cheek. "I love you too...but you knew that already. I am not prepared to let the best thing that has ever happened to me walk away without a fight."
"But Logan..."
"You said I don't do anything out of my comfort zone...that I could never meet you where you live... Well I am here and I will do anything to get you to see that if you can bend to be in my world sometimes that I can certainly bend to be in yours for other times. We can find a middle ground.
"
Logan put his arm around Rory, "I have spent most of my time here with your mom meeting different people, going different places, hearing different stories. I got to tell you Ace, I am jealous of the childhood you had. All of these people love you so much. And what surprised me most was instead of writing me off as the rich boy come slumming they tease me a bit but welcomed me into their stores and homes. They obviously wanted to protect you but since Lorelai was giving the tour I was more easily accepted...I have made a life of screwing around, getting drunk, going to social events, taking stupid risks all for the adrenaline rush. But today the weirdest thing happened. I got to hold a baby for the first time...I held a perfectly formed human... that was tiny. I don't think I have been more scared of anything...other than making love to you that first time but..."
Rory interrupted his diatribe, "And your parents? Your friends? Are they going to understand this homegrown adventure streak?"
"My mom can be like your grandmother so of course that can be hard...but you can handle your grandmother and I can handle my mom. We always have Lorelai to run interference and that is a gift from God."
He sidled up to her a bit closer, "My father and I have spoken. Once we really talked, or argued things out as the case may be, he agreed to let me run my life a little more on my terms if I show some initiative. He is so ecstatic he wants to hold a ball in your honor for straightening out his no good slacker son...shown by the fact that I would ask for an actual internship...one with a start and stop time each day."
Rory looked at him cautiously, "You are offering to work?"
"My dad has taught me the fine are of investing, so I technical don't need to. But working is something that will give me structure, keep me occupied, and hopefully show you I am trying."
Rory ran her hand through her hair, "Logan I don't want to be the reason you change. " She shook her head, "I get now why my mom turned my dad down."
"What?" Logan asked.
"Years ago...when I was in high school, my dad showed up and I was soooo excited. Mom didn't have much faith in him that anything would have changed but I was just so happy. It was my parents ya know? My dad asked my mom to marry him. She turned him down. I didn't understand it until this moment."
Logan stared at her, "How so?"
She looked at him like he was nuts, "Logan, you want something so badly you are willing to change, but you don't have any clue what that means or what it would look like, I don't want you resenting me..."
Logan put his hand on top of hers again, "This isn't about changing for you Rory. My dad and I were headed for a crash course soon enough. It would have most likely occurred in the newsroom, possibly in Doyle's office thus giving him a heart attack. Dad would have pressed harder and I would have resisted more. All that would have been gained is I would have felt even more of a need to cram a life's worth of experiences into a few years at college before my sentence as the heir took over. I get the fact now that my father isn't trying to take away my life...he's just trying to make sure there is a safety net when I fall. It is a weird thing but true. Your part in this conversation was the catalyst."
"Look, I was told a long time ago that one day I would meet someone who would challenge me, nettle me, push me to become a better man...and she would make me want to change everything in order to keep her at my side. I didn't believe it at the time. But now it's so simple to see... I could never explain why I couldn't keep away from you, or why it drove me nuts to see you with other guys. You were this unexplainable force that had control over me like no one else...You came into my world and brightened everything and in the process shined light on things I didn't want seen. You have never asked me to betray who I am, just to grow up some. But I seem to have been asking you to betray who you were without knowing it...so for that I am sorry. I want a chance to make this work."
She greeted him with tear filled eyes, "And when we get back to Yale and Colin thinks it funny that Marty can't afford to throw away money on a meal he was invited to...then what? When your legions of blond fans wait until I am studying one night and you are getting comfortably numb, what then? You see Logan I don't think there is a problem taking you off the market...its keeping you off that's tricky."
Logan sank in his seat, "Give us a chance...please...trust me."
They stared at each other for a long moment. Logan could read so many emotions in Rory's eyes. He tilted his head toward her tentatively, giving her plenty of time to pull away or turn her head. The soothing kiss that was supposed to bring healing in that moment was lost as Logan's cell phone began to ring.
"Get it," Rory whispered. "We need a break anyway."
"Hello," Logan fussed into the phone. Rory watched him wander into the backyard though she made sure she could still hear him.
"Don't bite my head off... just wanted to know why your car is still here, your limo is still here, and you got on a public bus from all reports?" Colin snipped.
"Because Colin it was important."
"How?"
Logan laughed, "Because I am going to work at a relationship for once."
"A relationship. Logan Huntzberger is in a relationship. Reporter girl must be tremendous in the sack to enact that change."
"Damn it Colin, you know her name is Rory. And while I might have been amused by you saying something like that before, it isn't cool now."
"Wow...take it easy. What's going on here?"
Logan plopped himself down on the stairs and said, "Last year I took the year off thinking I would find myself or some crap like that. It was a complete waste of time and money. All I really need was Rory Gilmore to come into my life, insult my lifestyle choice, mock the girls I date, laugh at the state I find myself most weekends, and be humbled by the care she was willing to show a guy she really didn't even like... I have just had a great big mirror shined at me and I'm not happy with what I see."
"So dump her."
"Not on your life."
"Why? If she's making you crazy?" Colin asked.
"You don't get it. This isn't just I don't like what I see in myself, Colin...its I don't like what I see in my life on the whole. I don't want to be my dad and I don't want to marry someone like my mom. I don't need the parties and functions. I just want to feel loved...and I can have that but not before I clean house."
Rory was touched by what he said. Logan really had been thinking about this.
"So what? You're going to get a job, move into a house with three bedrooms and two and a half baths, while doing chores around the house?"
Logan laughed, "You say that like it's a bad thing."
"What has this girl done to you? She fits with our group. Just bring her with...why are you having to change?"
"Because Colin, if Rory will join me in my world to put me at ease when necessary then the least I can do is return the favor. Besides I like this world. I like these people," he tried to convey.
"Does this mean we always are going to have to invite the bartender?"
Logan sighed, "Now I know why Rory doesn't think this will work."
"Why's that?"
"We really are the elitist pricks everyone thinks we are."
"Why are you taking a shot at me?" Colin fumed.
"Because you don't know how to treat people if they are different than you..." he paused a moment.
Logan sighed, "We have been friends for a long time right?"
"Yeah?"
"And we have pulled each other out of some tight spaces, right?"
"Yeah...where's this going Logan?" Colin sounded hesitant.
"Hang on a minute."
"Rory," Logan yelled inside.
"Yeah."
"Can I invite the guys over for movie night?"
Rory's eyes clouded, "I don't want to have them ragging on where I live and where I came from."
Logan took her hand, "Trust me, okay?"
"Okay."
"Colin?" Logan said.
"Yeah."
"You and Finn are coming to Stars Hollow tonight."
Rory went out on her front porch to see her mom. "How's it going?"
"He's inviting his roommates over for movie night," she pouted.
Lorelai shrugged her shoulders, "These guys seem to learn by experience. Maybe Logan is banking on them loving the experience. Besides I'll be here to smack the attitudes right out of them if necessary."
"Why did you take him around town?" Rory asked quietly.
"Because Rory, these aren't little things he is doing...like reading a book you recommended. These are major acts of discomfort to keep you. What he is doing is screaming how much he loves you and how much he wants to make this work."
Lorelai sat next to her daughter. "You have it rough kid. I ran from that world as hard and as fast as I could. I got away and never went back. I make appearances for family but this is where I live, this is the life I chose."
She pushed some hair behind her daughter's ear, "You walked into that world gracefully... straddling the divide between society and home. You are starting to feel the walls caving in so you are trying to get out...but honey you can't fully. You go to Yale. You are Richard and Emily Gilmore's granddaughter. That is your world right now. Whatever you decide to do after, that is your world right now."
Lorelai paused, "I think you just got freaked that the guy you obviously have fallen for is from that world and your choices seemed to be slipping away. But you told Logan what you needed, and he is doing his damnedest to give them to you. He doesn't want to take away your freedom, he just wants a ticket to ride." She kissed her daughter's forehead.
"Think about it kiddo... he's bending to fit into this aspect of your world."
"But this isn't a hard world," Rory insisted.
Lorelai shook her head, "That's not really true. Luke and several other people will write him off as Yale snob before meeting him. Everyone will be all over him and in his business. The town will be planning your wedding. Women will start making quilts for your children before the day is out...This isn't the easiest place when no one has any intention of making it easy on him. He has to prove he is worthy of the beloved Rory Gilmore. That is a tough thing."
"But you were walking him through it."
"Yeah, just like he walked you through his functions... He's trying."
Rory dry washed her face with her hands. "So what do I do?"
"Enjoy a weekend at home with your boyfriend," Lorelai muttered and went inside.
"I know you were listening," Lorelai said quietly.
"Thanks...for that," Logan gestured at the door. "Actually for everything."
She smiled, "You're good for my daughter. What you're doing is good too."
"Thanks for allowing a few snobby rich boys in your house tonight."
"Not a problem... Go sit with her. She needs you."
Logan stepped onto the porch as Rory looked out over the yard not turning toward him. "I grew up in the Independence Inn, in the one room shed with rose print paper on the walls...obviously not always...house after all. I grew up away from my grandparents as much as possible until I got accepted at Chilton. My dream had always been to go to Harvard...so my mom had to borrow money from my grandparents to pay for my private school education. My mother had to deal with so much of their crap to get me in for my dream to come true. We had to agree to dinners every Friday night in order to get the money. My poor mother...she had escaped this world she hated only to get dragged back in again to make my dreams come true."
Logan said nothing just stood behind her while she talked.
"I hated the kids at my school. They were so fake... My grandmother threw this stupid birthday party for me and invited them without asking me...I hated that. I finally made friends with Paris, but it took some doing."
"Oh lets not forget the fun of having my grandparents invite my father, Christopher's folks over to inspect me one night. That was blast. They acted towards me the way your crew does toward the people that work for them...mild distain for wasting their air... After all I was the reason my dad was a screw up. Its not like my mom didn't take me away from all of it so my dad could do whatever the hell he wanted include go on in their little world... but he...he just..." She was crying without knowing it. "And now that grandfather is dead and I can never be anything then the mistake that screwed up all the hopes and dreams he had for his son. He will never be proud of me or get to know me or..." a small sob escaped her throat.
Logan wrapped his arms around Rory's middle from behind gently and drew her to him. She turned in his arms with huge tears welling up. "You can't ever ask me to treat people like I don't see them or that they don't matter. Whatever you think of the maid at your house you have to think of me because that is what I come from. I am not ashamed of it. I won't hide it and I sure is hell will attack anyone who talks down about my mom... I just can't be that, Logan. "
He shook his head, "I don't want you to be... You are right. I may not be as guilty of it as some of my friends but I have looked past people who have worked at our house. I have ignored the bartender's at our parties. But part of you shining a light on what I have done in my life is making me more cognizant of those things. It comes naturally to you...but not to me. I won't lie about that. But Rory...us...this...right here...you and me...honest emotion on the table...that's all I'm asking for. I don't want the next Mrs. Huntzberger to throw parties and give me heirs. I just want you Rory and I will do anything to keep you."
Rory stared for a long time into his expressive eyes seeking any hint of deception. Once she was satisfied that he was speaking from his heart, she let her tears fall and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you."
Logan sighed with relief. They were going to be okay.
TBC...
A/N: Next chapter- limo boys invasion of Stars Hollow.
All together class: I will REVIEW Joy's stories to give her a happy. I will REVIEW Joy's stories to give her a happy. Very good. Next week we will learn the true nature of a Buttfaced miscreant.
