A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! I'm turning this out as fast as StuCo and school will allow.
On to the Story!
Chapter 17: Christmas Dreams
"Happy Christmas Eve," Logan called as he entered the apartment a week and a half later. It was one o'clock in the afternoon, the time he and his parents had agreed to meet at the Hayden apartment.
"Daddy!" Ella cried, racing towards him from her room.
"Hey sugar bear! Are you ready for Christmas to start?"
"Yesss! Mommy and I make cookies!" Ella informed him proudly as Logan settled her firmly in the crook of his arm.
"Ande the house is still standing?" Logan asked looking pointedly at Rory as she rushed through the hall.
"Yes. I'm a good cook now, thank you very much," Rory said, kissing Logan distractedly.
"We'll see," Logan replied teasing skeptically, grinning at Rory who was frowning. "What's wrong, Ace?"
"I just want everything to be perfect," Rory said, her voice betraying her flustered state of mind.
"It will be. You look gorgeous, the apartment looks great and from what I can tell from the smells, the food will be great as well. Relax," Logan assured her, kissing her deeply, causing Ella to giggle. As he pulled away, the door bell rang.
"Let the fun begin," Rory said, reaching to open the door.
&&&&&&&&
"Rory! Logan! How nice to see you!" Richard exclaimed as they entered the elder Gilmores' house several hours later. "Where's Ella?"
"She's coming with my parents. They should be here shortly," Logan explained. A second later the doorbell rang. Richard bustled forward to greet his great-grandaughter and the elder Huntzbergers while Rory and Logan moved into the crowded parlor. Immediately, Lorelai pounced on them.
"My first born!" Lorelai cried, flinging her arms around Rory and sagging in relief. " My favorite child!"
"Notice I'm only your favorite when we're at Grandma's parties and Nat is sent upstairs," Rory said dryly, hugging her mother back .
"You were my favorite for over 20 years. Now tell me what happened in New York," Lorelai demanded.
"Lorelai, you can grill Rory later," Emily informed her daughter as she breezed up to her daughter, grandaughter, and Logan. "Rory, Logan, how nice to see you. There are people just dying to meet you."
"Later," Lorelai said as Emily dragged Rory and Logan away. Pasting on smiles, Logan put his arm snugly around Rory's waist and they dutifully followed Emily.
&&&&&&&&
"Well, that was an adventure," Logan commented as he carried his sleeping daughter towards the Mini.
"I can't even remember how many times I heard what a 'lovely couple' we make and how glad everyone was that we had 'reconciled'. I even heard someone ask Grandma when the wedding was," Rory groaned. Laughing, Logan put Ella gently into her carseat.
"Welcome to the life of a single, wealthy individual being seen with another single, wealthy individual," Logan replied.
"It sucks!" Rory pouted, settling into her seat and smiling at Logan.
&&&&&&&&
"Logan, you can put Ella in Nat's room with him," Lorelai whispered as they entered the house, Luke and Logan carrying the sleeping children. The huge Christmas tree lit up the living room and entry hall.
"Where do you want us to sleep?" Rory asked her mom as the headed to the kitchen.
"The sofa is pulled out for you and Logan as long as there's no funny business," Lorelai admonished. "And as long as you dish about New York while the boys unload the car."
Rolling her eyes, Rory agreed. Once Logan and Luke trooped out to the car, Lorelai pounced.
"So what happened?" she asked, seating herself at the kitchen table. Rory quickly told her what occurred in New York up until they returned to the Plaza Saturday night.
"Then what happened?" Lorelai prompted. Rory just stared at her hands. "Oh my gosh! You slept with him didn't you?" Rory still remained silent. "Rory? Oh come on you can't leave out the best part!"
"All right! Yes, Logan and I slep together. And it was amazing. Happy?"
"What are you gonna do, hun? Were you safe? Are you thinking of marrying him?"
"I don't know if there's anything to do. We already have a daughter who's nearly 3 years old together so I don't think safety is an issue. We've mentioned that marriage in the near future is a possibility but only in passing. Why all the questions?"
"I just don't want you to get hurt again," Lorelai said.
"I won't, Mom," Rory replied as Logan and Luke entered the house. Getting up, she went to help then set up the parents under the tree. Two hours and one viewing of "It's a Wonderful Life" later, Rory and Logan curled up on the sofa bed under mountains of blankets.
"What did you and your mom talk about?" Logan murmured.
"Just about what happened in New York," Rory replied softly. "She's just worried that I'm gonna get hurt."
"Ace, if I can help it, you'll never get hurt again, especially not by me."
&&&&&&&&
"It's Christmas!" 2 little voices cried, jolting Logan and Rory awake. Pale beams of sunlight flowed onto the sofa bed, warming them as a small blonde bundle of energy bounced onto the bed.
"Daddy, up! It's pesent time!" Ella exclaimed insistently, shaking her father's shoulder.
"I'm up, you little monkey," Logan graoned, pulling his daughter up between him and Rory. Leaning up on his arm, he started tickling her and Rory joined in. A moment later, they stopped, smiling down at their daughter.
"Merry Chismas, Princess," Logan said.
"Me-y Chismas, Daddy. Me-y Chismas, Mommy," Ella said, hugging both her parents.
"Merry Christmas!" Lorelai cried from the top of the stairs. She hurried down the stairs with Luke and Nat following her closely.
"Now why are my grandughter and son not tearing into the gifts that Santa left?" Lorelai asked, pretending to be flabbergasted. The children needed no more prompting; they ran to the tree and started tearing at the packages with their pictures on them, since they couldn't read.
&&&&&&&&
"So did you get everything you wanted for Christmas, kids?" Luke asked, coming into the living and handing coffee to Lorelai and Rory.
"Yup!" Nat said happily, rolling his toy Bat-mobile along the floor.
"What about you, Ella?" Lorelai asked the little girl who was sitting on the floor by Logan's feet and playing with a giant doll.
"Yea, I duess so," Ella said quietly.
"Well, your mommy and I have one more little surprise for you, missy," Logan said, getting up and putting his jacket on.
"Where Daddy go?" Ella asked worriedly.
"You'll see," Rory said, smiling down at her daughter. A few minutes later, Logan came in carrying a deep cardboard box.
"What's in dere?" Ella asked, scurrying over to her father, her little pink nightgown billowing behind her.
"Well take a look," Logan replied, smiling as he set the box down in front of his daughter.
"A puppy!" Ella cried joyfully. Inside the box was a roly-poly golden retriever puppy. Laughing with pleasure, Logan lifted the puppy out and held it. Ella moved around the box and started petting it.
"He's petty!" Ella cooed.
"Yes, he is," Rory said, coming to take the puppy from Logan. "What are you gonna call him?"
"Sunny!" Ella exclaimed after chewing on her lip in thought for a few minutes.
"I think that's a perfect name, baby-girl," Logan said, hugging Ella. "And now, I have a present for your mommy."
Logan pulled Rory with him as stood up. Grinning at her, he took the puppy and set in the box and started fumbling in his jacket. Pulling out a small velvet box, Logan lowered himself onto one knee.
"Rory Gilmore, love of my life, mother of my daughter, keeper of my soul, I have loved you since I first saw you in the courtyard that day at Yale so many years ago. Every day we were apart, my heart ached until I thought it would shatter from pain. Every day, with every breath I take, from the first breath I draw when I wake up, until I close my eyes at night, I love and adore you. I know we've had some crazy times, but I would like nothing more in this world, than for you to be my wife. Will you make me the happiest man in the world and do me the honor of having your hand in marriage?"
"Oh my gosh, Logan," Rory breathed, taking the box from his upstretched hand and searching his chocolate eyes. Tears welled up in her eyes. Her gaze darted around the room, first to Luke, then to her mom, both of them nodding at her and smiling, to Nat, who was just smiling, and to Ella, who was staring at her parents in awe and happiness. Looking at her daughter and then at Logan, Rory knew what her answer was.
"Logan, I love you so much. Of course I'll marry you," Rory replied, happy tears streaming down her smooth cheeks. Logan scooped her up in his arms and kissed her deeply.
"Is that all right with you, Ella-baby?" Logan asked, setting her down.
"You and mommy get mawwied?"
"Yup."
"Yay!" Ella said, hugging her parents. She got her Christmas wish: a family.
A/N: Never fear, this is not the end of the story. I will DEFINITELY take this thru til they say 'I do'. WARNING: minor conflict next ch.
