Chapter 30: Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting

Lorelai, Max, Heather, and Luke were all standing outside of the Gilmore mansion staring at the door. No one seemed quite ready to make the move to ring the bell. They knew they would be happy to see Richard and Logan but they weren't quite sure about Mitchum and Shira Huntzberger.

Lorelai finally reached out and rang the doorbell. A maid quickly answered the door and showed them into the living room where the others were already waiting. Logan quickly got up and greeted them as did Richard. Mitchum and Shira remained silent until Richard shot Mitchum a knowing glance. The Huntzbergers stood up and Richard made the necessary introductions.

Everyone sat in silence for a moment until finally Mitchum broke the silence and addressed Luke.

"So Luke you're a restauranteur then?"

"Yeah, I own and run a diner in Stars Hollow."

"They have excellent food there." Max quickly chimed in.

"And the best coffee in the world." Lorelai added immediately.

Shira's attention turned to Heather. "So Heather, what are your plans for the future?"

"I plan to go to Yale and major in journalism."

Shira nodded quickly taking another sip of her drink. "So you want a career then?"

Richard quickly could see where this line of conversation was going. Shira wanted to make it clear that Logan was to marry a trophy wife that would organize parties and join the DAR. One that would never dream of a career. One without a brain–just like Shira. Although Richard secretly hoped that Heather and Logan would remain together–they were only in high school. Neither of them was thinking ahead to marriage yet. He wasn't about to let Shira try to intimidate them by doing so.

"Actually Mitchum, Heather here is an excellent writer. She's one of the best of reporters on the Franklin at Chilton. It wouldn't surprise me if one day she's running one of your papers."

"Grandpa! I'm only in high school..." Heather said in surprise.

"He's just proud of you hon," Lorelai immediately piped in.

The maid came in at that moment and announced that dinner was ready to be served. They all quickly and silently filed into the dining room.

Mitchum started the conversation at the dinner table. "So Max, you're the new English teacher at Chilton then?"

Max nodded in response.

"So does my son have what it takes to take over the family business?"

Heather glanced quickly at Logan whose head was quickly buried in his arms in frustration.

"Logan is an excellent writer–very bright. However, he has many years of schooling and life ahead of him before he has to take over the family business."

"That may be so but it's never too soon for the Huntzberger heir to start thinking about the future instead of frivolous things."

"Oh you mean like actually having fun and enjoying yourself..." The words had unfortunately escaped Lorelai's mouth before she was able to censor them.

"You would know about having fun at a young age wouldn't you Lorelai?" Shira said with an smirk on her face, while glancing in Heather's direction.

"And look at her now. She's a successful business woman, a Stanford graduate, and happily married," Richard added smoothly.

Shira laughed sarcastically.

"I thought we had all agreed to get along here," Richard reminded the Huntzbergers.

"You mean that you blackmailed me to get along with your no good granddaughter and her low-life family?" Mitchum shot back at Richard.

Lorelai and the others looked at Richard in surprise. They had known that Richard had talked with Mitchum but Richard hadn't told anyone exactly what had gone on between the two men.

Mitchum and Richard began to argue very loudly shouting insults back and forth and quickly Lorelai, Max, Luke, and Logan joined in. Heather sat there in silence watching the commotion.

Finally, Heather couldn't take it anymore. "Stop it!" She screamed above all the noise.

Everyone turned to her in surprise.

"You're all talking about me as if I'm not even here. As if I don't have feelings. Yes, I was raised in Stars Hollow by a diner owner. Maybe he isn't rich and doesn't have the right last name–but he loved me and cared for me after my own grandmother paid someone to take me. He has given me and continues to give me a wonderful life. I'm proud to call him my father. Maybe my mother broke all of society's precious rules but let me tell you she seems a lot happier than anyone else here that has followed society's rules for their entire lives. And yes I wasn't planned but my mother has made it quite clear that she never regretted having me. So I would appreciate if you would quit referring to me as a mistake. As for my relationship with Logan–we're in high school. We enjoy spending time together–a lot. He's been there for me when I needed him. You're right, Mrs. Huntzberger, I will never be some sort of trophy wife. I want a career. I want a husband who I will love. I want what Mom has. But all that's far off in the future. For now, I just want to be treated with respect. Maybe I don't follow the rules of society but I'm not trailer trash. I'm a Danes, a Gilmore, and I guess a Hayden. I think that stands for something."

Heather took a deep breath as she sat down.

For a moment the others sat there in silence. Finally, Mitchum spoke up. "That took a lot of guts young lady. Maybe we have underestimated you. Maybe there is more to you... We're sorry. We'll try to be more accepting of your relationship with Logan."

Heather nodded in surprise. "Thank you."

The rest of the evening passed mostly without incident. Mitchum and Shira left alone, leaving the others behind for a moment.

"I'm really proud of you Heather." Lorelai told her daughter.

"We all are Heather," Richard quickly chimed in.

Logan grinned. "You managed to intimidate Mitchum Huntzberger and earn his respect. It's a rare person that can do that. By the way, how did you do that? Maybe you can give me some pointers for the future."

Heather shrugged. "I guess I just reached the end of my rope."

"You stood up for yourself and for all us. I've never been as proud of you as I am at this moment," Luke said, giving his daughter a hug.

Finally the group parted company. On the way back to Stars Hollow, Heather finally admitted to herself that Emily Gilmore had been wrong. Emily Gilmore was simply a spiteful, bitter woman–out for revenge. Heather had always known the truth deep down. But tonight she finally was able to accept that Logan was not going anywhere in spite of what her revenge-seeking grandmother had told her.