Chapter Eight
A.N. I love the mixed reviews I am getting. I hope you guys stick with me despite the outcome of the trial. Because I think in the end it will make everything better!
"I can't do this," Lorelai pales at the site of Logan, "I have to go to the bathroom, I'll be back."
Luke sighs, they'd just walked into the hallway outside of the courtroom and Luke approaches him, attempting to remain calm. "Logan isn't there anyway to talk you out of this?"
Logan looks tired, worn, as he shakes his head, "I'm sorry but there's not."
"We'll let you see Victoria whenever you want, let her spend weekends and other days in New York City but don't take her from us permanently." As much as Luke wants to blow up at the blonde standing in front of him he knows that yelling isn't effective, hell he'd tried that already.
"I'm sorry," Logan shakes his head sadly. "Victoria is all that I have left of Rory and I was stupid not to take responsibility for her in the first place. You and Lorelai and whoever else are welcome to come visit her in the city whenever you want, and she can come stay with you guys to visit. But...she's my daughter, I want to be there for all of her big things, when she starts walking and talking and her first day of school and even the little things, her first scrape..." Logan trails off before sighing, "I really am sorry Luke. I know how much she means to the both of you. I left Rory I don't want to do the same thing to Victoria, I just wish Lorelai could understand that."
Luke sighs sadly, he had to give Logan credit he was just trying to do the right thing, by Victoria and ultimately trying to make up for everything he had put Rory through. "I understand and even if she doesn't realize it Lorelai understands too."
"I understand that the situation is a hard one," the judge is a woman in her early 50's and she offers a kind smile at all of the parties sitting in front of her. "Mrs. Danes I realize how much you care for your granddaughter, but the law is very clear about this, Mr. Huntzberger has the rights in this situation. I am under obligation of the law to grant full custodial rights of Victoria Leigh Huntzberger to her father Logan Huntzberger effective immediately."
Shocked silence descends on the small courtroom, but Logan breaks it quickly, "thank you, your honor. But I'd like to keep Victoria's last name as Gilmore, it's what her mother would have wanted."
The judge nods, "so noted." Her eyes fall on the broken looking woman and her husband, Lorayne Tripp had been a judge for many years and when situations like this came along she always felt horrible for the party that had the children ripped out of their lives. Her files had explained the situation in-depth to her and if Lorayne could give custody based off of who rightfully should have custody of the little girl her decision might be different, but she had to make her decision based on laws. And the law said there was no question as to who should get custody in this case, and watching the expression on Logan Huntzberger's face Lorayne knows that the little girl will never be hurt and she will be raised with a loving father. Shifting her gaze to the disheartened couple she says, "I'm so sorry for the situation."
Luke nods absently at her before he wraps an arm around Lorelai's shoulders, "we'll still get to see her. She's not gone forever." Lorelai doesn't respond to Luke and he can feel her surrender, knowing that all of the fight has left and his wife is drained both emotionally and physically.
Logan appears beside them, he looks serious but his eyes betray his excitement, "I really am sorry for all of this." He repeats his earlier words, "maybe when everyone gets re-adjusted we can sit down and work out a schedule for your visits with Victoria."
"Yeah sure," Luke nods, he just wishes Logan would go away, he's not making the situation any better.
Logan seems to pick up on this, "maybe I can come get Victoria in the morning?"
"Yeah, sure," Luke nods, "that's fine." He gently wraps his arm around Lorelai's waist supporting her completely, Lorelai rests her head on Luke's shoulder and they walk out that way.
"No, Finn, I can't," Logan pauses in the conversation to listen to his best friends response, "I can't tomorrow. No. I've got to drive to Stars Hollow to pick up Victoria." He rolls his eyes as he listens to Finn, "yeah. Things are changing Finn. With me, things are changing, I've got to take care of Victoria now. I can't just pick up and fly to Madrid. When? I dunno maybe 18 years?"
Logan lightly taps the refrigerator as he searches it for something to eat, only half paying attention to his friends persuasion to come with them. He's relieved by the sound of the doorbell, "since Finn, someone's at the door. I've got to run. No I won't think about it, I can't come with you to Madrid, I said I've got to..." Logan stares at the sight before him, "go." He closes his cell phone quickly without giving Finn the chance to speak again.
"Can we come in?" Lorelai, with a sleeping blonde haired baby in one arm and several bags in the other, stands in Logan's doorway.
"Of course," Logan nods quickly, shocked at her appearance, she looks sad with tears still evident on her cheeks but the dead look that had been in her blue eyes hours before at the courthouse is gone. Logan takes the bags from Lorelai, "how'd you get past security? They don't let anyone up here without notifying me first." It's a dumb question but it's the only thing he can come up with at the moment.
"They recognized Victoria," Lorelai responds motioning to the sleeping toddler, "apparently she's very popular in your building."
Logan nods, "she is. Everyone loves her. But, um, what are you doing here? I thought we decided I'd come get her tomorrow morning?"
"We did," Lorelai nods, "and on the drive home I came up with a million different ways to convince you that you couldn't take her. Each one more crazy," Lorelai seems to find this funny and she laughs lightly, "I even thought of buying a boat and sailing for the next 18 years. But," Lorelai's expression falls slightly and her lip quivers, "I realized that's not right. Rory wanted you to take care of her, and I've got to respect her wishes. And I realized that the reasons that I wanted to keep her were my own selfish reasons..."
"My reasons are probably selfish too," Logan cuts in.
"I know," Lorelai nods slightly, "but you're the right person to raise Victoria. She loves you. Rory loved you, she loved you until the day she died. And that's how I know you'll love Victoria."
Logan clears his throat, Lorelai had never admitted to Rory loving him before, "I will."
"But there's just a few things," Lorelai's voice trembles, "you've got let me remain a part of her life, because she's all I have left of her life."
"That's not even a question."
"And you have to let Stars Hollow remain a part of her life, Rory was Stars Hollow's princess and Victoria is her successor."
Logan nods, "I understand."
"They're having a first birthday party for her Saturday and there's going to be a million other things that she has to be a part of."
"I understand, Lorelai. I understood Rory's crazy love for Stars Hollow and in this last year I got to know the crazy people that lived there, I understand how much Victoria means to them. I would never shut you out of Victoria's life."
"I know," Lorelai nod, "that's why it's so hard to hate you."
"Thanks, I think," Logan responds as Victoria starts to stir in Lorelai's arms. "Hi sweetie."
"Dadda!" Victoria grins the instant her eyes focus on Logan her arms going out for him to hold her.
Once Victoria is settle in Logan's arms Lorelai faces her, "sweetie, you're going to stay with Daddy now. But you'll come visit Grandma and Grandpa a lot okay? We'll see you in a couple days." A tear slips down Lorelai's cheek, "I love you baby girl."
"Love, love," Victoria puckers up her lips and leans toward Lorelai for a kiss.
Lorelai kisses her, gently touching her soft blonde hair, "I'll see you both Saturday." With her final words Lorelai lets herself out of the apartment.
Logan looks at Victoria, "guess it's just you and me kid. What do you say we watch a movie? I've got Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on hand, it was your mom's favorite so I figured I should get you started young."
A.N. I have another chapter planned...but this turned out very ending-ish...what do you guys think? Another chapter or leave it at this?