Author: Lady Eliza
Characters: All Characters
Rating: T
Summary: Total AU Rory and Logan Spoiler Warning
Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls or any of its characters.
AN: Thank you to my reviewers for thier wonderful feedback. AyshaA: Rory and Logan still go to school but they have the luxury of jetting off to an exotic locale at the drop of a hat. Iknow it seems like they don't go to Yale but they still attend classes I just don'twrite about the school part of their lives. Shelley: I'm glad you like that I update everyday. Idon't write the story on paper I simply sit in front of the computer and type. Iused to have chapters written in advacne by three chapters or more but now I simply sit in front of my computer for a few hours everydayand write.Sydneymorgan: Good luck on your final.Please continue to review.
Chapter 33: Unwanted Guest And Speeches
Jess was nervous beyond belief. He was standing in front of the door of the Huntzberger Mansion. He had not drawn up the courage to ring the doorbell as of yet.
When he had driven up the vast driveway he had been awed at the castle like home. When one of the valets took his rusty old car he had felt embarrassed since everyone else had the latest model sports car.
He was going to ring the doorbell but a maid opened the door before he could do so. She was a no nonsense looking woman who let him in and promptly left him to find his own way to the party. The first thing Jess noticed when he entered the Huntzberger home was a marvellous chandelier and artfully decorated ceiling. He guessed when people were as rich as the Huntzbergers they could have ceilings like the Sistine chapel.
Jess followed the voices to a ballroom that seemed to be the main locale for the party. He looked around to see if he could find Luke since his uncle was the only who would welcome with open arms and wouldn't act hostile towards him.
Shira Huntzberger knew the minute that insufferable boy Jess entered the ballroom. He strutted into the ballroom and looked around with a sneer on his face. She didn't understand his need to chase Rory even though she was clearly besotted with her Logan. The boy seemed quite dense if he wouldn't give up on a girl that didn't see to reciprocate his feelings. Shira went to look for Emily and Francine to notify them of the arrival of their unwanted guest.
Logan and Rory were up in him room getting dressed since Logan had succeeded in distracting Rory from getting ready for the party early. So he had made them late for their own engagement party. Rory had scolded him about what people were going to think when they went down an hour late. Logan simply said that they'd understand since they had all been engaged at least once in their lives or will be eventually.
Rory was putting some last minute touches to her make up before she got into her dress. Logan was tying his tie and fixing his hair. When Rory came out of the bathroom in a robe she quickly ran into Logan's walk-in closet and grabbed the dress. She put the dress on as carefully as possible in front of the mirror.
Rory had fallen in love with the dress the minute she had seen it in a New York showroom. She and Honor had been wandering around some of the designer show rooms and when they had gotten to the Narciso Rodriguez one Rory had spotted this beauty. She knew she had to have it the minute she laid eyes on it.
"Logan, honey, I can't seem to reach the zipper. Can you zip me up?" asked Rory.
Logan walked behind her and zipped her up as lowly as possible feeling her skin all the way up. He knew they had no time to dilly-dally but he couldn't seem to get enough of her. When he looked in the mirror and saw her giving him a dirty look he hurried. "I must say Ace, you look magnificent. That dress looks lovely on you. Is it the one you got in New York with Honor?"
"Yeah, it's a Narciso Rodriguez and I absolutely love it. But then I love all my dresses. Now come on before the guests start to wonder if we've eloped or something."
"I think mom, Emily and Francine would have heart attacks. They will never forgive us."
Rory dragged him by the hand and they stopped at the top of the staircase so the butler could announce them as per Shira's orders.
Jess was standing in the corner watching the people in the room. Luke was nowhere to be seen, but Jess had seen Lorelai so he assumed his uncle was in here somewhere. So far every member of the Gilmore or Huntzberger family had given him the cold shoulder. He didn't mind too much since he didn't consider them the best company.
Logan and Rory were also obviously absent from their engagement party. Jess didn't understand if this whole shindig was put on for his benefit or if it was actually for real. He would know when he observed Logan and Rory whom hadn't made their appearance as of yet.
Jess noticed many familiar faces in this crowd. He was shocked to discover Prince Charles was in attendance but he shouldn't have been since Rory was related to him. He also overheard a couple with a British accent speaking quietly about the fact that the Queen had been saddened that she couldn't attend the celebration since she was otherwise occupied, but she had sent Charlie in her stead.
Jess noticed many powerful political figures from both political parties in attendance the Kennedy's, Bushes, Clinton's, Arnold and Maria. There was an eclectic mix of old and new money as well. It seemed the Gilmores, Huntzbergers, and Haydens commanded such a turnout. Jess felt like a fish out of water. He didn't know anyone. When a man at the door asked for everyone's attention the room quieted itself down.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to present the guests of honour Miss Lorelai Gilmore and Mr. Logan Huntzberger."
Jess watched as Rory and Logan descended the massive staircase and made their way into the ballroom. Rory looked gorgeous in a knee length white dress with black straps at the top of her dress. Jess didn't think the dress was a Rory dress, but what the hell did he know, her tastes could very well have changed. The dress showed more skin than he would have thought Rory wanted to show.
The couple was applauded as they made their way to the make shift stage that was in front of the room. Jess really looked at Rory and she seemed genuinely happy. He tightened his hold on the champagne glass he was holding. He loved this woman and he wasn't about give up as of yet. He still didn't know if this engagement was a farce or not.
Jess noticed a very good-looking girl who stood off the side of him talking with the British couple. The girl looked like a model but she also looked familiar to him, he had seen her face somewhere but couldn't place her. Then the girl looked up at Rory and yelled, "Cousin Rory, yoo-hoo, can we see the ring?"
Cousin Rory? He turned his attention to Rory who was grinning at the model girl and held up her left hand. "Can you see it Ella?"
"Yeah, Logan you have great taste," shouted Ella. Everyone who had heard the exchange burst out laughing.
Now Jess understood, this Ella was Lady Gabriella Windsor. The cousin comment made perfect sense now. He found that Rory's extended family intimidated him more than he was comfortable with. He continued to watching the couple make their way to the front albeit slowly. He sipped his champagne and watched Rory's angelic face light up as she chatted with her family and friends.
Lorelai watched her daughter manoeuvre through the crowd of rich, powerful, and influential people. She felt proud watching her daughter engage in conversation. Rory looked to be in her element at the moment and with Logan at her side they made a striking pair. Lorelai felt ashamed for letting her personal feelings stand in the way of her daughter's happiness. Rory was glowing.
She felt Luke's hand squeeze hers and knew Luke also saw the happiness in Rory's big blue eyes. She had never before seen Rory so poised, confidant, so at ease in her environment. Lorelai was genuinely happy for her daughter they had spent a few days together. Lorelai, Rory, Logan and Luke it had been a memorable get together. Lorelai noticed the way Logan looked at her daughter, with love and awe. She had misjudged the boy and she would regret that for the rest of her life, but she was getting to know him now so that's what mattered at present.
Luke had noticed Jess come in, but he had excused himself and went to the bathroom before his nephew came looking for him. He was a little upset with Jess for trying to ruin Rory and Logan's relationship. Lorelai had filled him in on what had gone down in New York and Luke was quite disappointed in Jess for not learning his lesson. Luke was here to celebrate Logan and Rory so that's what he was going to do.
The couple finally reached the podium and sat on the chairs that were set up for them. The host and hostess for the evening came up on stage. "Hello everyone I am Lady Sarah Gilmore-Hartsworthy and this is Frederick Waldorf-Hearst and we are your host and hostess for this evenings events. For those of you that don't know I am Rory's cousin and Frederick is Logan's cousin. All right let's get this evening started; so if you may all be seated. First up is Lady Lorelai Victoria Gilmore II."
"For all of you who don't want to say all those names my friends simply call me Lorelai. I am the mother of the bride-to-be. Wow! I've always wanted to say that. Rory is my best friend as well as my daughter since we grew up together. She and I haven't agreed upon many things these last few months but we found our way back to each other. I'm so proud of Rory and that she is going to marry Logan, the man she loves. I don't think I have ever seen my daughter this happy in her life. She has grown into a classy, confident, and loving young woman. Rory sweetie, you are the light of my world and all I've ever wanted was your happiness and I'm ecstatic that you have found that with Logan. Logan, I'm going to be proud to call you son when you marry my daughter. I know you will take good care of her and keep her as happy as she is at this very moment. So I wish the both of you well."
Lorelai had held her tears at bay when she was making her speech, but when she turned to give her daughter a hug she let them fall since Rory had tears running down her face. Lorelai quickly kissed both Rory and Logan and got off the stage.
Frederick came on stage and announced the next speaker. "Ladies and gentlemen Shira Eunice Huntzberger."
"Hello everyone. I'm the mother of the groom-to-be. I've actually waited many months to say that out loud. Logan is my only son and he's always been an independent sort. I thought it would take him a while to settle down, but when he met Rory that theory went out the window. There was a change in my son that I noticed from the first time he spoke her name. As his mother I had hoped and prayed that he had decided to date the young Miss Gilmore, but he wouldn't give me a straight answer when I asked him outright. One evening he phoned me and told me he was coming home and would be bringing a guest. When they walked into my parlour hand in hand I phoned Emily and we started making plans for the wedding. I knew Logan was serious about Rory from the get-go since he wouldn't bring a girl home unless he was really serious about her. I wish the happy couple well in their lives together. Rory I've thought of you as a daughter from the beginning so nothing is really going to change in our relationship, well maybe you will call me Mom. Logan honey, I love you very much and I am happy that you have found your soul mate."
Shira was tearing up a bit but she was too stubborn to let them fall in public. She hugged the couple and quickly got off stage.
Sarah came on stage wiping her eyes, "Wow those were touching speeches. The rest of the family decided that it was fitting for the mother's to speak on behalf of the entire family. Everyone else will be writing their speeches for the wedding. Now we want to show you a small documentary on the courtship of Logan and Rory. This film was made by Colin Dupont-Rockefeller and Stephanie Vanderbilt."
Jess had watched the happy couple and heard the sappy speeches from the mother's. He thought it was a little over the top for an engagement party. I mean, was it necessary for them to make speeches or have a host and hostess. Jess knew he sounded like a scorned lover, but he hated watching them describe how Rory and Logan had gotten together. Now he was forced to see this film that showed Rory and Logan before they had dated at an event where they had jumped off a seven-story scaffolding. There were tons and tons of pictures and video clips of them doing different things. Jess had to look away.
"Now do you believe me about Rory and Logan being engaged?" asked Elias Huntzberger who seemed to come out of nowhere.
"No, I still don't believe it this might be a farce," said Jess.
"Young man, you are either very stupid or very delusional. If you don't change your viewpoint on Rory and Logan's relationship soon. I will have to take desperate measures to assure the happiness of the couple. You don't want push your luck with me."
"Are you threatening me?"
"No, I will simply feel obligated to tell your family the real reason for your leaving the Peace Corps."
Jess stared at the man and couldn't form words. He had his secrets and they were his to tell or not tell.
"Those files are sealed for a reason. You can't get that information without a court order. I wonder what the authorities would say to that Mr. Huntzberger."
Elias laughed, "Do you think I was born yesterday, boy. I know some very influential people and so do Rory's grandparents; you'll be wise to remember that. I did get a court order to open your sealed files and I also had a private investigator do a background check on you. I've found some great tidbits about you and I believe I would be honour bound to inform your parents."
Jess could say nothing more since Elias walked off to talk with his son. Jess was furious that files that were supposed to be sealed could be opened with a snap of a finger from a man like Elias.
He had missed some of the festivities concerning Rory and Logan as he had been conversing with Elias Huntzberger. He watched the host and hostess tell everyone it was time to eat and the festivities would continue afterwards. Jess wanted to leave but he didn't want to seem like a coward and so he stayed for dinner. He couldn't wait for the second part of the evening.
AN1: If you guys want to see Rory's dress from the engagement partyplease visit my blogspot.
AN2: Please, Please, Please Review.