Chapter 19

That night was two months ago, the summer flew by. Logan and Rory spent most of their days at the paper and with Mitchum. Logan didn't realize how much there was to actually learn although he had been the heir since birth; he never knew what it entailed. Rory was going back to school in a week and they were making their last trip to the San Francisco Chronicle office, it was the most recent acquirement and they needed to spend some time with the staff and management. It was also their first time on their own; no Mitchum, Elias and even James. They had a game plan Rory was going to deal with the journalists and the editors and Logan was going to deal with the Editor in chief and the managers. They had exactly one week until Rory had to be back for classes, thank god she didn't have to move into a dorm.

"What time are we leaving in the morning?" Rory yelled from her desk in her office at the Gazette, Logan was walking by her office.

"What?" Logan replied not really hearing her, he walked into her office and sat down across from her

"What was that?" he asked

"What time are we leaving in the morning?" she asked again

"Early" he stated smirking

"How early is early Logan?" she knew his early was going to be early

"We have to be to the airport by 6" he said quickly

"OH MY GOD" she shrieked "Are you serious" she stated. "

"Yes, I am very serious" he deadpanned "We need to take off at 6 in order to be at the office by at the earliest 10 or 11"

"Then why aren't we leaving tonight" she asked not at all happy.

"Because tonight we are having dinner with our friends remember" he said

"Great now do I not only have to get up before the crack of dawn but I have to go out tonight as well" she said in all honesty and she was not happy about it. "We are not staying out late mister, do you hear me?" she threatened

"What are you complaining about, we are flying on a private jet with a full bathroom and bedroom, not to mention it's roughly a six hour flight" she said laughing at his wife.

"What exactly is your point?" she was becoming furious.

Logan walked over to Rory and pulled her up and into a hug "What it is that I am getting at my sweet wife, is that you can get into the limo that will be picking us up at 5:15 tomorrow morning, in your pajamas and go back to sleep in that big semi comfortable bed then when you wake up you can take a shower and get ready for the day" he stated as it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh, that doesn't sound to bad" she lamented "Well then can we leave I need to run to the store to get some stuff for school, because I won't have time when we get back from California"

"Sure, I was almost done, let me just finish up this last thing then we can go, give me 15 minutes." he kissed her cheek and walked out of her office

The evening was just what they needed, Rory and Logan had been so busy they barely had time for their friends. They made a pact, once a month no matter what they would get together for dinner. Sunday, was the best day for everyone.

"Why did you two have to go to work today?" Steph asked Rory and Logan

"It's a 24/7 business, and since we won't be around for a week we needed to do a few things. We were only there for a few hours." Rory answered

"You two work to much, I bet you are looking forward to getting back to school, Love" Finn asked Rory

"Not really, I have been enjoying myself; I am really going to miss it" she stated sadly

"What about the YDN?" Paris asked

Rory and Logan looked at one another "I am stepping down as editor and I will be submitting articles here and there, but between school and work I truly don't have the time. Besides, I have my career. Let someone else benefit from the title of Editor of the Yale Daily News" she said in a sad tone

"I hope you weren't forced into that decision" Paris hissed

"She was not in anyway forced, it was really her idea" Logan snipped "I would never ask her to step away from that" he added

"Don't worry Paris, if I truly didn't believe what I just said I wouldn't be doing it." she said in all seriousness "Besides, Bill is taking over"

"That weasel" Paris snapped "How did he get the job?" Paris was still quite sore about the whole Editor thing, she is working on it with Terrence

"Subject change" Stephanie yelled

"How are your Mom and Dad doing?" Steph asked Rory, everyone loved the drama

"They are doing quite well actually, only Mom is moving out of Starrs Hollow, but not too far." Rory stated to the group

"Why is she leaving Starrs Hollow?" Colin asked "you guys love that town it was like an appendage, it seems weird that neither one of you will be living there"

"Well, Loralie and Chris are moving in together and since Chris works in Boston and she is still keeping the Inn they are moving about halfway in between" Logan said

"Wow, your mom is actually moving out of your town." Paris said surprised "What about the house is she keeping it"

"She doesn't know, she wants to, I mean it's our house. But, she and Luke just finished remodeling it last year so there is that to consider, so she might just sell it." Rory was again sad

The rest of the night went quickly, they were home by midnight and fell into bed. Rory groaned when the alarm went off, Logan set up the coffee timer and had the travel cups ready. They went to their limo not in their pajamas but in sweats. True to his words the second she got on the plane she went back to sleep.

The week flew by, they accomplished all they could and left it in the hands of the staff. They returned home to bad news. They were in the car on their way home from the airport when Logan's cell phone rang

"Hello"

"Logan, its Honor"

"Hey Honor, what's up? How's Josh?"

"Fine, You and Rory need to come to the Hospital"

"What's the matter?"

"It's Dad"

"We are on our way" Logan hung up the phone and told the driver to head to Hartford Memorial

"Logan, what's the matter?" Rory asked concerned

"It's Dad, he's in the Hospital" Logan looked as if he was going to throw up

"What happened?" Rory was beginning to cry

"I really don't know I hung up" he said putting his arms around her. They new it was only a matter of time, over the past two months he was deteriorating, loosing more weight, not being able to eat.

They pulled up to the hospital, wiped the tears from their eyes put sunglasses on an climbed out of the Limo only to have their pictures taken by dozens of awaiting photographer yelling out question about Mitchum and when he passed away; they kept their heads down, Logan squeezed Rory's hand and pulled her into the hospital and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. They walked up to the information desk.

"Yes, we are looking for Mitchum Huntzberger, I am Loralei Huntzberger and this is my husband Logan" Rory said her voice was very shaky

"Yes, Um I need to check ID, people have been trying all day to get up there" the nurse stated

They both pulled out their driver's licenses and she told them where to go.

"Take that elevator to the fourth floor and turn right, you should see the rest of your family in the hall" she said sweetly

"Thank you" Rory said Logan still didn't speak, he didn't know if his father was dead or alive. They didn't ask at the front desk knowing full well they wouldn't tell them

The elevator ride took forever, people stopped at every floor. Finally they reached the fourth floor and the doors opened with a Ding. They made the right and say everyone.Honor,Josh, Elias,Finn, Colin, Steph, Paris, Doyle, the Gilmore's, Chris and Loralei;Honor and Steph were crying as were Emily and Loralei; everyone else looked somber. Honor ran to Logan and hugged him.

"When?" He asked

"Not yet" she replied

"What do you mean not yet?" Rory asked still crying

"The doctor said he is holding on for something" Honor said crying

"Can we go in" Logan asked

"Yeah, go in" Honor said

They stood outside the door for a moment before walking in. They were holding on to one another for dear life, scared of what they were going to see, when they walked into the room, nothing could have prepared them. Mitchum was lying there IV bags hanging monitors beeping and the blood pressure machine kicking on. It was a humbling moment. Rory turned her head into Logans chest and began to cry, tears were streaming down his face. They walked over to his bed and sat down, they wanted to wake him but decided against it.

Rory was in Logan's Lap crying when they heard him.

"Logan"

"Yeah Dad, we're here"

"Rory's with you" He said like he couldn't see, then they realized he hadn't opened his eyes

"Yes, Dad, I am here" Rory choked out and grabbed his hand

"I was waiting for you two" Mitchum said in a weak voice, a tear was falling down his face"I wanted to say good bye"

"Dad" Logan said "I'm not ready"

"Yes you are son" he said

"No, I am not ready to loose you " he said now sobbing into his fathers' chest

Mitchum placed his arm around Logan and said "I'm sorry son, I love you; I'm sorry it was too late." the machines began to beep and nurses ran into the room. Rory had pulled Logan off of his father and cradled him the best she could. Mitchum was gone. They walked out of the room and Logan left Rory to hug his sister for a minute. The rest of the night was a blur. They stayed at Richard and Emily's that night. Unfortunately the first event that Rory had to plan as a Huntzberger was to be her Father-in-law's funeral, and Emily insisted that she help.

They were in bed trying to fall asleep, both were crying.

"My Dad is gone" Logan said to Rory

"I'm sorry sweetie, I am so sorry" she said she pulled him closer and kissed his forehead.

"I Love you Logan" she whispered

"I Love you too, Ace. You are my family now!" he said and fell asleep.