Chapter 12: I'll be there For You
"Ready to go build a snowman?" Rory asked the kids after they had sufficiently stuffed themselves with pancakes.
"Yup!" was the enthusiastic response.
"Thanks, Luke. We'll see you later," Logan said before following Rory and the kids outside into the frigid November air.
"What kind of snowman should we build?" Rory asked once they were in the snow covered area in front of the gazebo.
"Big!" Ella exclaimed.
"Funny," Nat suggested.
"Ok, then, let's get to work," Rory said. They worked diligently for 30 minutes before the interruptions began. They had just got the largest ball in place when Miss Patty waddled up to Rory.
"Rory darling, who is that gorgeous specimen playing with Ella and Nat? He looks familiar," she cooed, wrapping a fur coat encased arm around Rory's shoulders.
"That's Logan Huntzberger. Logan!" Rory called, motioning to Logan to come over to her.
"Miss Patty, you remember Logan don't you?"
"This is Logan? I guess I'd forgotten. Isn't he Ella's father?" she asked expectantly.
"Yes, he is," Rory replied patiently.
"I thought Dean, your father and Like ran him off," Patty said.
"Yes, they did, but he found us recently and is working toward complete forgiveness."
"How did you find these darlings?" Miss Patty asked sternly.
"Hope and 2 crazy but loyal friends," Logan said, pulling Rory against his side and kissing her hair softly.
"I don't know how I ever got on without Rory or our daughter."
"Well I hope we'll be seeing more of you, tah," Miss Patty said, bustling off to Doose's. They had just gotten the second ball started when Taylor stalked over to them.
"Rory what is this young man doing here?" Taylor asked pompously.
"Taylor, you remember Logan. He's here spending the weekend with me and Ella and the rest of the family," Rory explained diplomatically.
"After what he did to you, you're still going to trust him?"
"Yes, I am. Everything in college was just a misunderstanding. Excuse us, we need to get back to our daughter," Rory said, not allowing Logan to say a word before they returned to the snowman. Before it was finished, they had similar encounters with Babette and Maury, Jackson and Davy, and Gypsy. When the snowman was completed down to the rainbow mittens and carrot nose, the 4 began meandering towards home. As soon as the house came into sight, Rory stopped. Logan, who was holding Ella, and Nat stopped too and looked at her curiously.
"What's wrong, Ace? You look like you've seen a ghost," Logan remarked.
"Dean's at the house," Rory whispered.
"It'll be ok, Ror," Logan said, looping his free arm comfortingly around her shoulders.
"Just don't provoke him, ok?"
"Ok," Logan said before pulling her towards the house with Nat holding her free hand. A dark look crossed Dean's already scowling face when Rory waked up with Logan's arm around her and Ella in Logan's other arm and Nat swinging on Rory's hand. They looked like a real, happy family.
"I thought we told you to stay away from Rory, Huntzberger," Dean said menacingly.
"Ace makes her own decisions, Forrester. I explained what really happened and she's giving me a chance with her and Ella. Now, if you'll excuse us, my daughter is shivering and needs to get out of the cold," Logan said stoically.
"Rory, why are you giving this spoiled jerk another chance to hurt you?" Dean asked angrily.
"If I remember correctly, I gave you 3 chances to hurt me and you didn't even get me pregnant. Logan is Ella's father and I care a lot about him. I was miserable and bored with life before he found us and now I'm happy and alive. Please let it go," Rory said tersely. Pushing past him, Logan led Rory and Nat up the stairs, Ella still clasped snuggly in the crook of his free arm.
"Daddy, who was dat?" Dean heard a sweet little voice ask from behind him.
"That was just one of Mommy's friends from high school, angel. Did he scare you?" he heard Logan reply gently.
"Yes, he looked mean."
"Don't worry, baby. I'll always be here to protect you."
Dean felt his fury growing by leaps and bounds. He should be the one holding Rory's daughter and comforting her. If hadn't been for that spoiled little rich boy and his friends, he would never have broken up with Rory. He lost his wife and the woman he loved all because of his last relationship with Rory and Logan's interference. He swore to himself he would win Rory over if it was the last thing he did.
