A/N: okay, so everything up to this point was leading up to this point. The kiss was not a happily ever after, but when have my stories ever ended so soon. Read on…
Thank you for the reviews. I really appreciate it.
Chapter Nine: In the End of all Things
She slept deeply nestled in his arms, more comfortably than she had ever slept in her life. Then came the heavy knock on the door.
Logan stirred, causing Rory to groan. "Ignore them," she pleaded, without opening her eyes. Logan yawned and obliged.
The knocking escalated to pounding. Logan sat straight up. "Who is it?"
Rory opened her eyes to see the door fly open. Lorelai, Emily and a maid stormed into the room. All three women stopped and stared at the sight of the young couple curled up on the sofa, Rory's lavender silk gown acting as blanket, her legs entwined with Logan's, the abandoned dance slippers lying next to the empty wine glasses on the floor.
Lorelai recovered first. "What is going on here?" she asked, unable to hide the escalating panic in her voice. Rory rubbed her eyes sleepily, and when her vision cleared the anger in her mother's eyes was unmistakable.
"We fell asleep," Logan answered as he stood up. He offered Rory his hand and helped her to her feet.
"Fell asleep?" Lorelai asked. She surveyed the couple, observed their rumpled appearances, but the pleading look in her daughter's eyes made her trust them. "We need to leave immediately," she said at length.
"I'm sorry," Rory began. "I didn't mean to-"
"This scene has nothing to do with anything," Emily said brusquely. "Mitchem Huntzberger has made quite the mess of things. Your grandfather is infuriated. We are leaving now, and you will not be seeing Logan again."
"WHAT?" Rory and Logan cried simultaneously. Emily was taken aback by their loud voices.
"What do you mean she will not be seeing me again?" Logan continued in a quieter tone.
"The wedding is off."
Rory's eyes flicked from Emily's angry look, to Lorelai's apologetic one, to Logan's confused eyes which mirrored her own emotions. "I don't understand."
"Apparently your father," Emily said with a cold glare directed at Logan, "has decided the deal with Richard was not suitable. He wants Richard to up the offer or the whole thing is off. Richard said there was no way he would give up 65 percent of the company, that they had agreed to be equal partners, and so now the whole deal is canceled, including your marriage."
"Bastard," Logan said strongly. Once again Emily was taken aback by his spirit. Logan turned to Rory, ignoring the other women. "We have to talk to him."
"Of course," Rory said. The startled look in her wide eyes frightened Logan. He took her hand and led her past her family and out the door.
They found Mitchem in his study with Richard. Logan pushed the door open without knocking, his hand still wrapped firmly around Rory's. Lorelai and Emily rushed in behind them.
"It's no use Logan," Mitchem said without looking up from the paperwork on his desk. Richard was standing against a wall, looking out the window into the dark night.
"You can't do this!" Logan exclaimed angrily.
"Yes I can. It was my deal to begin with."
"But you're not just breaking a business arrangement," he said. "You're breaking people's lives."
Mitchem laughed, startling both Rory and his son. "Do not pretend to be so righteous," he said, finally looking at his son. "It's lost on me."
"Father-"
"Two damn months ago you were in this very room BEGGING me not to make you marry this girl. My life will be thrown away if I marry so young, you said. I've hardly ever spoken to her. You're using me as a pawn in a game. You never consider what I want. Well Logan, it may have taken several months, but I finally listened. You are released from the arrangement."
Logan listened with mounting anger and embarrassment. He had said those things, but that was before he knew Rory. He stole a glance at Rory, who was staring levelly at his father. She felt his gaze and turned to him. Her eyes portrayed a look of understanding.
"Things are different now," he said in a softer tone.
"My son is fickle, is he? Well I'm sorry Logan, but I only take into account original opinions. I believe we are done here. Richard has agreed that this is finished. Now, would you all please leave my office? I'm sure dessert will be served soon if you wish to stay…"
Logan put his hand around Rory's waist and gently led her out of the room.
"Rory, come now, we're leaving," Emily said sharply. "I am tired and I do believe I have had enough of this families' inhospitality."
Rory looked up at Logan, her bottom lip quivering and her eyes filled with anguish.
"Rory," Emily said, a bit softer.
Rory felt the eyes of her family on her back. She held Logan's look for several seconds, then with a sob only Logan heard, she turned and left with her family.