Title: Stretch
Rating: PG
Genre: LLR
Spoilers: A House Is Not A Home (season 5 finale)
Summary: following the events in Home…
Disclaimer: Like all of the other characters I write about, these are not mine, nor were they ever. I make no profits, other than the rewards of imagination stretched.
Chapter Seven
Stretch
by xenoprobe
Rory took a seat in a long, padded sun chair on the patio of the Huntzberger summer home. Somewhere inside, out of sight but within earshot, Logan was deeply engaged in yet another heated grilling by his parents.
"I thought you would have worked this one out of your system by now!"
"You can't keep shirking your family obligations forever Logan."
"She's not the right fit, pretty yes, but not a Huntzberger."
"We invited you both, yes, but it's you we're worried about, she's a bad influence on you."
The statements kept coming and Rory could only speculate what must be going through her boyfriend's mind. He'd been uncharacteristically quiet since their arrival on Martha's Vineyard, a fact that had her doubly unsure of her decision to accompany him. She was, after all, supposed to be taking some time for herself.
She hadn't registered that the yelling had ceased and was startled to see Logan standing at the patio threshold.
"So. Here's what I'm thinking." He smiled a broad sparkling grin. "I say, we pack up our things, head back to Hartford and get the hell outta Dodge." Rory swung her legs off the side of the sun chair, allowing him to sit with her.
"Seriously?" She wasn't sure how to react.
"Seriously." He took her hand in his. "I've had just about enough of their crap for a lifetime and could do with a real break." Rory leaned forward and tentatively kissed him and he caught her wrist and pulled her closer for a more meaningful embrace. "Sound like a plan, Ace?"
"Sounds like a plan." She agreed, standing up and shaking off the fatigue in her bones. "You do know you should probably stop calling me Ace though." She looked a little saddened by the reference.
"Nope. I don't think I can do that. I mean, you're an Ace- whatever the origins, that's what you are, my lucky ace." He took her hand in his and they paraded through the large summer house, past his parents, past his apologetically smiling sister, past grandfather's scowling face and up the stairs to pack. It was time to go home.
After some terse goodbyes and half-hearted than yous for the offer of a summer on the Vineyard, Rory and Logan found themselves finally alone, in her car, driving back to the life they'd attempted to escape from.
"So. I've been thinking" Logan began.
"'Bout what?"
"About us and this unfortunate situation we've got ourselves into."
"Don't you mean the unfortunate situation I've gotten myself into?" she countered with a lopsided grin."
"Nope. That won't do. If you're in it, I'm in it." He took her hand and squeezed before she pulled it back to grip the steering wheel again. "I think there's something missing from our lives. I've never really given it much thought before but somewhere between my family and yours, I've come to the conclusion that you and I both need a heavy dose of reality. Stretch ourselves a bit."
Rory nodded, listening closely.
"I think we need jobs. Average, dull, hard-working jobs." He glanced her way, his sharp blue eyes smiling. "I think, families be damned! We should toss it all, and go find ourselves something to do with the rest of the summer."
Rory mulled this over in her brain. It actually made a fair bit of sense. Richard had promised to arrange work for her through a business contact of his, but her heart was not in it and she'd been stressing over taking the position ever since her grandfather had mentioned it.
"That actually sounds like something I could do. Get a job. Go to work. See if I've got the stones for it." She speculated out loud.
"Oh I know you've got the stones for it. And what would stop you from applying at, let's say, the Hartford Gazette?" Rory's smile faded and she shot her boyfriend a dubious glance. "C'Mon Rory. Just because my father is an ass? You really have to move past it. I mean, how many people has my father railroaded in his many years as master and commander? I can't begin to imagine. He's bound, by percentages alone, to miss the mark occasionally, right?"
This was not at all what Rory wanted to hear. Not at all. She didn't want to even consider that Mitchum Huntzberger was ever right. She wanted to hear that Logan believed in her, in her merits, as a person, as a budding journalist. Her dubious smile fell into a full frown as Rory locked her eyes on the road ahead.
As if reading her mind, Logan indicated a rest stop only a few miles ahead and asked her to pull over.
With water bottles full and bathroom visits behind them, the pair headed back to the hybrid car. But Logan was not content to drive another minute if it meant having to silently watch the girl he loved suffer any more doubt.
"Rory. I think I need to tell you something." Logan led her to a picnic table and they sat face to face. He carefully considered his words, leaving her dangling until he spoke again; "I don't think I've mentioned this yet, and I feel like a total ass for missing the mark… You know I don't agree with my father right?"
"Well, actually, no. I didn't know that." She looked down at her lap.
"Well, I don't. I think he gave you that internship to check you out, as a potential Huntzberger, not as a potential journalist." Logan reached out and tucked a lock of her brown hair behind her ear.
"That doesn't really change much though, does it? I mean, we're all clear on the fact that your family doesn't accept me, right?" She seriously did not want to start crying, not now.
"And what has that got to do with anything? They're my family, not me." He placed a finger under her chin, pulling her face up to meet his. "So my dad doesn't see you as marriage material. So what. Better he be motivated by that than actually think you aren't cut out for publishing."
Rory didn't know what to feel. Somehow Logan's entire family had a particular knack for the double-edged compliment. She shook her head disapprovingly.
"All that matters is that I love you. You can do anything Rory. It doesn't matter what my father said. You shouldn't give up based only on that. If that was the order of business, we wouldn't be here, together, now." She considered this. Letting it start to make sense to her. "If Yale isn't the right fit for you, we'll find something else. But I want you to reconsider it. For me. Can you do that?"
"I think so." She offered. She certainly was not prepared to return to Yale on his account, but he was making sense about not abandoning all hope. "I think I need to talk to my mom." She smiled weakly then burst into tears. She missed Lorelai so much and the fact that Logan's sentiments mirrored those of her mothers only made the sting seems sharper. She was seriously beginning to think she'd messed up beyond repair.
"Ok. So. Here's what we're gonna do right?" He wiped the tears from her chin and handed her a handkerchief, leave it to Logan Huntzberger to have one on hand. "We're going to go to Star's Hollow. You're going to see your mom and I'm going to do my damnedest not to screw anything up. We'll all talk and things won't seem so bad when all is said and done."
Rory nodded, feeling guilty for his words having more effect that her mother's had when her world had first started to crack and crumble. It was all a matter of time and timing. Maybe now was the right time to rehash things and Rory felt a sense of calm and relief at the prospect of returning to Star's Hollow. They both went back to the car, intent on carrying out their plans.
(Luke's Diner)
The bell above the diner door jingled. Rory and Logan stepped inside and she indicated for Logan to take a seat at a table. Luke had his back to the door and was unaware of their arrival. Instead he busied himself taking Kirk's order.
Rory observed the man that would soon be her step-father, noting how changed he seemed. It was quite possibly the first time she'd ever seen him sporting anything but flannel in the diner and was pleased by how comfortable he appeared in a navy blue t-shirt instead. She stepped up behind him and tapped his shoulder.
"Ah, Hi Luke." Her voice seemed small in the busy, noisy diner.
"Rory!" He seemed startled by her sudden appearance. "When did you get here?"
"Logan and I just arrived; we just drove in from Martha's Vineyard."
Luke glanced over at the doe-headed specimen seated by the window. His limited introduction to Logan Huntzberger had been a flustered, near-altercation. He forced a smile at the boy.
"Um… Have you seen my mom? We stopped at the house first and Michel said she was out when we swung by the Inn."
Luke chose his words carefully. "Um, well… I think she had a check up today." He checked his shoes then added, "with the doctor."
"Is everything alright? Is she sick?" Rory was clearly concerned.
"Everything's fine Rory. Just fine. Just a check up. We both have to have physicals to get the marriage license." Such was true but only half the reason for Lorelai's appointment.
"So, everything's moving along with the wedding plans then?" she tried to make conversation but the busy diner offered her little chance to delve in deeply.
"Yup. Fine. Moving along well. Thanks…" He gestured her towards the table where Logan was seated. "Listen, you kids want something? Coffee?" he jerked his chin out as he offered.
"Well," Rory looked between Logan and Luke, "sure. Coffee's fine. Logan?"
"Yeah, I'll have coffee." Logan stood suddenly, sending Luke back a couple paces, and stuck out his hand. "Logan Huntzberger. I think we got off on a very wrong foot. I hope I can change that." Luke shook the hand with a uncertain smile on his face.
"Yeeah. Luke Danes. I guess we'll see about that." He looked back at Rory. "If you want, you can go upstairs and wait for your mom. I'll get Caesar to bring you up the coffee and some muffins or something?"
Rory nodded her head in agreement and led Logan to the stairs. "We'll wait here then…" she paused, looking beyond the crowd, out the windows at the sunny streets of Star's Hollow. "Thanks Luke."
Luke squeezed her shoulder. "It won't be too long…"
A half hour had passed when Lorelai breezed into the diner smiling. She sat down at the counter and bounced impatiently, waiting for Luke to emerge from the kitchen. When he did, his expression told her that something was going on and her smile turned to a look of immediate concern.
Luke leaned in, kissing his bride-to-be and escorted her to the storage room.
"Hey- what's the damage?"
"Rory and Logan are here. Upstairs."
Lorelai didn't know what to make of the news. "Do they know anything, I mean about my doctor's appointment and stuff."
"Not from me they don't. I figured that was a conversation for you and not me."
Lorelai took his hand and thanked him with a kiss. She turned to make her way to the apartment then paused. "Here. For you." She handed him an envelope. He opened it and looked at her questioningly. "It's all there. Clean bill of health for the marriage license and confirmation of the pregnancy." He stepped up quickly, kissing her backward against the storage unit, his hand at her tummy. "Whoa there Daddy-O… I don't think you've got insurance coverage for that kind of action back here."
"I'll call the broker in a minute." He pressed the words against her parted lips. "Now go on… I'll come up in an hour or so when the diner dies down. Come get me if you need me before that ok?"
"K." She walked away.
"And Lorelai?"
"Yeah?"
"This is good… it'll be alright."
She grinned, as much for her reassurance as his.
(Luke's Apartment)
"And the prodigal daughter returns," Lorelai announced with a tentative smirk.
"Mom!" Rory stood to rush to her mother then reconsidered. "Are you alright? Luke said you were at the doctor."
"Yup. Fine. We're fine." Lorelai looked at Logan, who was sipping coffee from a Luke's Diner take-away cup. "Logan" she acknowledged. "I thought you two were summering with the jet-setters on the Vineyard."
"We tried." Logan spoke up. "It was a mess. We decided to take a break from everything and come home."
"Home? Home where?" The eldest Lorelai glanced between her daughter and the boy she'd brought into their lives.
"Technically that's still the pool house. But grandma and grandpa don't know we left the Huntzbergers yet. I, we, wanted to see you."
"We." Lorelai whispered.
"We need to talk." Rory searched out her mother's eyes, knowing the difficulty that lay ahead.
"Boy do we ever kid!" Lorelai confirmed.
Everyone sat down in silence. No one knowing exactly where to begin. Logan examined their space and spoke first.
"So, what's with all the boxes?" he took Rory's hand in his.
"Well, I guess we're starting there then… A lot has happened in a month." Lorelai began. It was going to be a long afternoon in close quarters. She kicked off her shoes and hunkered down.
Lorelai took her time explaining the news about the Twickham house, speaking deliberately, not wanting to scare off the daughter she so desperately needed to reconnect with. She elaborated on the how and why of the move and expressed herself carefully, considerate of her audience. She was uncomfortable with Logan, there was no doubt about that, but it seemed that there was no way around his presence.
Rory was full of questions about the house, about the wedding, about Luke and about her mother. Logan was quiet and respectful. Both women were silently appreciative of that fact.
By the time Luke entered the apartment, some of the ease of old, familiar conversation had returned.
"So," Luke began, taking a seat beside Lorelai on the couch. "Where we at?"
"We've covered the move, the construction, the sale of the Candy Shoppe, Taylor's second attempt at a toupee." Lorelai checked off an invisible list.
"Don't forget the wedding stuff," Rory volunteered cautiously.
"Yes, we got as far as the ceremony being at the house; my house, not our house." Lorelai squeezed Luke's thigh knowingly.
"So, not…" He waggled his eyebrows at her, not so discreetly.
"Haven't gotten that far yet. Rory was just telling me about Logan's suggestion to find jobs. Regular jobs."
"Regular jobs?" Luke looked confused.
"You know, regular jobs… like yours and mine. As opposed to trust fund type jobs, with inside tracks and secret handshakes…"
"Ah" he nodded.
Logan smirked at the explanation, a quiet appreciation growing for his girlfriend's mother.
Lorelai returned her regard to the younger couple. "And where was it you planned on doing this?"
"Hartford," offered Logan. "I was telling Rory she should try applying at one of the newspapers there."
"Ah-huh… I see." Lorelai cast her daughter a glance, reading her reaction. "That doesn't sound too bad." She encouraged. Luke smiled.
"We'll see." Rory wasn't as enthusiastic as Lorelai'd hoped but it was definitely a start. It was all definitely a big start. "was there something else? Luke seemed to indicate that you'd left something out in the big news department."
Lorelai nodded her head excitedly, biting her lip. She looked to Luke, silently asking for his support.
"Your mom and I… We have some other… news." Rory stared at her mother, deep into the reflection of her own icy blue eyes and the message was received; a telepathic link re-established. Rory leapt to her feet with an exuberant cry and rushed to Lorelai and Luke on the couch, grabbing hold of them both as she stumbled between them. Logan looked decidedly confused.
"When? How? Omygod Mom, I'm so happy!" Rory pulled back and sat on the edge of the coffee table.
"Just found out last week and had my first check up today. All good. As for the how… man, I hope I don't have to explain that one again!" Lorelai giggled with her daughter, feeling a deep sense of relief to have her mother-daughter connection restored, if only somewhat.
Logan still looked dumfounded and Rory rolled her eyes at him, "they're having a baby!"
Logan jumped up from his seat as if suddenly awake. "A baby! Well, well… congratulations, to you both." Lorelai observed as Logan hugged Rory and offered handshakes to the happy couple. He looked a little blind-sided, "things are so different here… real…"
"That's right. Real." Lorelai was just beginning to see that there may be hope for the blond boy yet.
To be continued….
Notes: I'm finding it hard to write about Logan without vilifying him, which would be pointless. This is all moving much faster that it would on the show, no doubt, but I can't realistically keep up this pace all summer long! My fingers I really love the kind words people are offering and some ofwould fall off! you have even noted the pattern in the chapter titles… I love that kind of attention (big hugs to one and all). There will be more… just give me time to put it all together… Suggestions? Comments? Keep 'em coming folks…