Lorelai woke up on Christmas morning, smiling instantly at the warmth radiating from Luke beside her. She remembered what Luke had told her about Logan, buying her a ring in her very own hometown. She had to say it- the boy knew exactly what her daughter was like. She was thrilled Rory had found the right man, but in the past she had always dreaded this moment that was bound to come. She had played it over in her mind, her daughter saying she was getting married, Lorelai sad for days about Rory, her angel, was finally coming to be a full-fledged adult. But instead, she was giddy with Rory's excitement. And she had no idea why.
Rory woke to someone kissing her shoulder. She roused, scratched her head, then looked up into soft brown eyes. She loved the fact that everyday, for the rest of her life, she'd be doing this.
"Merry Christmas," Logan said. Before Rory could respond, he had her in deep kiss. Soon she was pressed up against the iron bed frame, enjoying the loving moment. Before this simple good morning greeting became an X-rated smut novel, the two separated simultaneously.
"Hi," she said softly.
"You wind your legs when you sleep," Logan replied randomly with an all-too serious straight face.
"Huh?" Her soft grin was replaced by a very confused raised eyebrow.
"You do. You put on foot under the other and tuck one knee into the other knee. It's quite cute."
"Okay, first off, we've been, put bluntly, in the same bed for two years and you just say this. Second, is this really the conversation you wanted for this morning?"
"What can I say, I'm very unexpected. I do many things that surprise people." Rory agreed to that one. Very much so.
"And I suspect you like it."
"Well I'm definitely enjoying it right now."
"You're crazy."
"It's fun to be crazy." Smiling wide again, she climbed out of bed and headed towards the kitchen, playing with the hem of her oversized T-shirt. Rory ducked her head to tuck a lock of dark hair behind her ear when she caught something right in the middle of the strip sunlight pouring in (because she forgot to close the blinds the night before). There, sitting on her trusty chrome coffee machine, sat a small red box with a white bow tied around it. Rory picked up the box and opened it; her breath had locked up in her throat. There sat a gorgeous small diamond ring. Rory felt Logan's presence in the room instantly right as she picked it up. God, how did he do that, she thought. She turned to him, her eyes still on the ring.
"You like?" Logan asked her ever so softly.
"It's perfect." She looked up at him, and he was caught off guard with the oh-so familiar shine in her pale blue eyes that shocked him every time he saw them with such intensity. "It really is. I love it." Rory leaned into him and kissed him gently, one that reminded Logan of the night he climbed into her dorm window.
An hour later, after the fabulous breakfast Logan had cooked up (pancakes, Rory even stirred the batter), they turned off the TV after watching an episode of The Office, something Rory had insisted on doing. After The Office ended, she was debating with herself on whether or not to say what she wanted to say.
"Hey Logan." She paused still a bit unsure of herself. Rory just decided to spit it out. "Do you realize that next year, exactly one year from now, we'll be married and celebrating Christmas together?" She held her breath.
"Wow" was the only thing Logan said before lacing his fingers through hers on the hand that held the ring. They sat in comfortable silence before Rory sat up.
"Okay, we have to be at my mom's in fifty minutes, then we go straight from there to the grandparent's, so we gotta go." She was about to start walking, before Logan caught her thin wrist and pulled her back down.
"I love you, Ace."
"I love you too." Logan kissed her on the cheek, and before Rory went totally weak, she had to sit up.
"We have to go," she said reluctantly.
"What's the attire?"
"Emily and Richard."
"Gotcha." After they had finally gotten up, Rory went into her closet. After ten minutes of tapping her finger on her chin, Logan popped his head in.
"Hey, close to ready?" He looked at her, dressed in her white shorts (which Logan had a hard time keeping his eyes off of) and a big blue shirt. "I take that as a no." Rory glared at him.
"I have no clothes." She turned back to her stuffed closet.
"Just wear a skirt or a dress," he told her plainly.
"It's not that simple! I have to coordinate." Logan rolled his eyes and smirked.
"Here." He walked up and pulled out a full black A-line skirt with a navy blue sweater and a black pinstripe blazer. "I'll leave the shoes to you and leave before I go completely Clinton Kelly." Rory smiled. She chose a pair of silver flats to match the pinstripes, and put some volumizing gel in her hair and tousled it. A bit of concealer, some navy eye shadow, a sweep of her favorite baby pink powder blush, and a dab of peachy lip gloss and she was good to go.
"C'mon Logan." He was sitting on the couch, reading a magazine. He looked up, surprised.
"You look amazing," he whispered in her ear.
The doorbell rang at Lorelai's house. She rushed to it, eager to see Rory.
"My beautiful, darling daughter!" Rory came into her open arms, appreciating her mom so much at that moment.
"Hey Mom!" She kissed her on her cheek, then let Lorelai hug Logan. Logan seemed a bit taken aback, and Rory let out a small chuckle.
"Well, Luke is in the kitchen…" She led them into the room, where Luke was lying under the sink, "…and trying to fix the leak."
"Hey Rory." Luke's voice was muffled as he didn't emerge from under.
"Hey Luke. I see you're having fun."
"Oh yeah. I'm about to start dancing," he shot back in his familiar sarcastic tone.
"Hey Luke." Logan lifted his hand in a quick greeting, then realized Luke couldn't see him. Rory wrapped her arm in his, instantly making him feel better. She knows exactly how I feel, every minute of the day. How does she do it?
"Logan? Oh hey. Sorry."
"For-" Logan was cut off by Luke's solid "Ow!" as he lifted himself up. "Nevermind," he mumbled.
"There all done. Now, I have to go get ready." Luke pointed to his blue flannel shirt.
"Go. We leave in twenty." Lorelai kissed him softly on the lips and let him go. "Sooooo," she drawled once he was out of the room. "Rory, do you have something to show me?"
"Oh my god!" Rory immediately stuck out her left hand. Lorelai admired it.
"Oh my gosh, I'm sooo making Luke take lessons from Logan."
"Copycat."
"Meow." Lorelai finished "ooo"-ing over the ring, then took Rory gently by the arm. "Uh, Logan, help yourself to coffee or water or whatever's in the fridge, I'm gonna…" She pointed to the living room, leading Rory along the way. Logan shrugged.
"What Mom?" Rory asked, confused.
"Have you told the grandparents?" Rory bit her lip.
"No."
"Are you going to tell them tonight."
"I don't know." She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, indicating to Lorelai that she was truly undecided. "I mean, I guess I have to. But then, the minute I tell her, she's going to make everything a big deal and go completely insane because this is her perfect match, and on Christmas? I mean, it totally loses its holly jolly spirit that even they can muster up-" Her mom caught off the ramble.
"Rory, hon, if you don't want to tell her, you do not have to. I mean, you can wait and have the last few days that he's here in private. In fact, I recommend you do that."
Rory sighed. "Okay, I'll do that."
"Good, sweetie." Lorelai gave her daughter a hug. Luke's heavy steps bounded down the stairs. He was still adjusting his tie.
"Okay, how's this." He motioned towards his polo and pants.
"Perfect. My God, that was fast."
"Well, I'm not really one to spend twenty minutes tapping my finger on my chin." Lorelai and Rory exchanged smiles.
"I agree." Logan walked in. "This morning I had to help Rory get ready." Lorelai looked at her ensemble.
"Well, I do have to say, you have excellent taste. I mean it. You should be a stylist or Marc Jacobs. Oo, oo, or Zac Posen."
"I immediately regret what I just told you." She grinned evilly. Luke wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Crazy lady," he told her as he kissed her soft, dark hair.
"Yes, well, that's why you love me."
"You bet." Lorelai giggled, and they started walking towards the door.
"Wait, Mom."
"What?"
"What about presents? You know, Christmas tradition. I wasn't expecting a whole Jesus serenade, but I mean, it's pretty typical." Lorelai smiled.
"That is to be held for tonight, when the party begins." Rory knew that smile. Her mother had an entire agenda planned for the night, and Rory was to know nothing of it. Shoot.
After thirty minutes of annoying driving, at least to Rory, the two cars, (one truck, one Porsche) pulled up to the mansion.
"Well, here we are."
"Personally, I'm glad."
"Why in the world?"
"Because. Two words: apple tarts."
"Goodness, you're right. Oh Rory."
"Yeah?"
"Ring."
"Oh yeah." Rory pulled off the diamond ring unhappily, giving Logan a look that said, "Explain later. Just trust me."
Luke rang the doorbell.
"Merry Christmas, Mom."
A/N: Finally it's up. That makes me feel a lot happier. Thank you to everyone that reviewed before, and I'll be overjoyed if I come back with even more reviews. Also, my personal writing goal is to have at least two and a half pages (or pretty darn close to it) per chapter. This one was 3 ½, I think that's sufficient, considering that since I'm back and it's the summer the updates will be quite frequent, every other day. BTW- The Clinton Kelly remark is a reference to the show "What Not To Wear". Lol. And the Marc Jacobs and Zac Posen are designers.