AN: I want to thank all of the reviewers, your kind words and support really are keeping this story going, I had no idea this story would be this long. Thanks.
Disclaimer: These characters are not mine, but the thoughts and ideas are.
Chapter 20
Logan couldn't believe what had happened, his father was gone, but also his father had held on to say good bye.
"Rory, do you have the name of a florist yet?" Emily asked they were sitting at the dining room table, it was 7:30 in the morning, and she had woken Rory up at 7 stating they had to get things started.
"Yes, I have two actually" Rory answered then taking a sip of coffee. "Grandma, if it's possible I want Sookie to cater the funeral luncheon" she asked
"Of course sweetie, after all, this is your event I am merely here to guide you" Emily said "Now, you also need to have appetizers at the house during the wake, Do you intend on Sookie doing that as well or would you like the name of the caterer I use?"
"I think that would be too much for her to handle, don't you agree? So maybe we should use your caterer for that, and I am guessing that we should have food for after the viewings and for the family in the morning. What about Lunch?" Rory was becoming quite over whelmed
"Calm down dear it will be fine" Emily began "Yes, it would be nice to have some Danish and Coffee maybe even bagels in the morning for the family. Appetizers should be offered the whole day nothing heavy, the caterer will make suggestion there is usually a lull, it is considered proper decorum to allow the family a little time in the afternoon for a break and some lunch, so if you wanted to have the caterers have something there for that as well that would be very thoughtful" Emily was looking at her Granddaughter "You are going to be a great hostess"
"Thanks Grandma" Rory said getting up to pour yet another cup of coffee. Just then Logan walked into the dining room donned in khaki's and a polo shirt.
"Morning Ladies" Logan said blankly walking over to the sideboard pouring himself a cup of coffee and grabbing a muffin stopping to kiss Rory on the cheek then sitting down grabbing the paper.
"Good morning Logan" Emily said watching him walk through the dining room and kiss her granddaughter then hide behind the paper.
"Well, there are only a few other details but they seem to be taken care of by the will. Logan it seems your father was very organized. It's rather refreshing" Emily stated
Logan dropped the paper "Yes it seems my father had it all taken care of" he stood up walked over to Rory "I need to go for a drive, I'll be back in a little while" he kissed her on the lips
"Sure, do you want me to come with you?" Rory asked
"No that's ok, I know you guys have a lot to do, but I really can't deal with this right now, if you need more help call Honor" he said trying to be sweet but it wasn't coming off like that
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. You have your cell phone right?" she asked
"Yeah, I'll call you when I when I am on my way back. I won't be gone long" Logan said and walked out.
"He'll be alright?" Emily asked
"Yes, he needs to clear his head" she stated plainly "OK, I am going to call the florist, can you please call the funeral director for me, I don't think I can handle that and then we can call the caterer together, then Sookie. How does that sound?" Rory said she wanted to be done with everything when Logan got back.
"Let's get to it" Emily said standing up and with her book.
"I'll go into Grandpa Study" Rory said
Two hours later everything was complete, all that was left to do was call the staff at the Huntzberger Mansion and alert them everything was coming.
Just then as if he knew her cell phone rang
"Hello"
"Hey beautiful, want to go out for lunch?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"I know this quiet little place in New Haven, you in or you out Ace?"
"With you I am always in" she said smiling.
"Meet me out front in 5"
"Love you husband"
"Love you wife"
They hung up the phone Rory ran upstairs to grab her bag and tell her grandmother she was running out for a little while with Logan.
"If you need me my cell is on" she said to her grandmother as she left the house
Logan's car pulled up just as she walked out the door, she climbed into the car and kissed him.
"Are you ok?" she asked him
"Yeah, I just couldn't be around everything you were doing" he said "Sorry, I wish I could have helped you I just couldn't do it"
"It's fine really, it was hard to handle all the details knowing what it was for, it's not like planning a regular event" Rory said sadly "I'm really going to miss him"
"Yeah me too, how long do we have?" He asked, just the family was getting together tonight for a dinner that Loralei was gracious enough to offer to have at the Dragonfly Inn.
"Um, we need to be at the inn at 6:30 so we have 5 hours." She said thinking of things she needed to do "There is something I am worried about though"
"What's that?" he asked
"Your Mom" she said bitterly "You don't think she is going to show up is she?"
"She probably will" Logan said "But I can't blame her, she was married to the man for 30 years."
"And, how do you feel about that?" She asked Logan, she was a little confused
"Listen, Ace, I am not saying that I want a relationship with her, but she is my mom and if she wants to be there I won't stop her" he said
"Ok, your turn to listen. I would never, I mean never stop you from having a relationship with your mom" she stated clearly "That being said, I don't think I could ever forgive what your mother has said to me and about me, she said some pretty volatile things to me, I hope you can understand that"
"Of course I do, I would never allow her to hurt you again." He kissed the back of her hand as they drove to New Haven in relative silence.
They arrived at the apartment, they looked around the wedding gifts that were scattered and unopened when they arrived home from their honeymoon were now opened and piled on the pool table, much to Logan, Colin and especially Finn's dismay. They had been talking about getting a bigger house, but they weren't sure where to move and Rory still had another year of school.
"I really should ask my Grandmother to store these things at her house until we are able to buy a house" Rory said just looking at the organized chaos on the pool table
Logan didn't reply he knew she was just thinking out loud. He watched Rory as she walked over to the coffee machine and made a fresh pot.
"You want?" Rory asked Logan pointing to the coffee
"Please" he said walking over to her and wrapping his arms around her from behind and resting his chin on her shoulder "Come here" he said turning her in his arms.
Rory looked into his eyes and saw the pain in them, he was truly hurting. She began kissing him gently, not sure if he would want comfort this way, he responded quickly deepening the kiss, he cupped her cheeks in his hands as she ran her fingers through his hair then he gently ran his hands down her arms to her waist playing with the hem for mere seconds before he pulled it off of her. He began leaving a trail of succulent kisses from her mouth to her neck, causing her to moan she was unbuttoning the few buttons on his polo shirt allowing his shirt to be removed with ease.
They looked into one another's eyes and recognized the pain and the lust that was now brewing in both of them. Logan took to her neck with fervor continuing down to her breasts and undoing her bra with ease then attacking them, she was throwing her head back in the agony of pleasure. He began playing with the button of her pants and she with his, hers were removed and kicked away, he bent down on his knees leaving a trail of fire laden kisses from her breasts to her stomach as he pulled off her panties and kissing her along the newly uncovered skin and back up to her neck then her lips until neither one could take anymore
"Oh God Logan Please" she begged, with that he lifted her up and sat her on the counter pulled his pants down and entered her it wasn't long until she climaxed and he wasn't far behind.
They both stood for minutes without saying anything, panting trying to catch their breath.
"Thank you" Logan said still trying to recover
"Thank you? Really that's all you can say?" she laughed automatically thinking of her first kiss and laughing even harder.
"What's so funny?" Logan asked
"Nothing, that just reminded me of my first kiss" she said, she had told Logan about that a long time ago. They both started laughing now. He walked them into the bedroom and climbed under the covers.
"I wasn't thanking you for the wonderful, fulfilling sex we just had, well not really, I was thanking you for everything you've done. You could have just walked away, but you didn't. You stayed put up with my family, we got to know my father together, you helped me cope with his cancer, you married me and now you are stepping into a roll, I know you weren't ready for, Mrs. Logan Huntzberger. I am sorry I wasn't more help with the planning of all the details, I hope you understand. I also hope you know how grateful I am to you and your family." He said sincerely
"Logan first you should know I really didn't have much choice, I love you, I will never leave you especially in a time like this. And as far as me getting to know your father, you should know by now, that is who I am, as long as I am being treated with respect and kindness there isn't much I won't do for that person. As far as my 'role' as Mrs. Logan Huntzberger, it's not a role, it's who I am; I will do what needs to be done because I love you and you are my husband. You, Logan Elias Huntzberger, are my family and my life" she responded to him with the same sincerity. She leaned up kissed him gently on the lips and said "now lets take a nap"
"I Love you and Thank you for being… You" he said squeezing her tight, and they both fell asleep.
They woke up two hours later "Shit" I knew I should have set the alarm" Rory yelled jumping out of bed "We have to be to the Dragonfly in an hour, which is 30 minutes away" she was now running into the bathroom and turning on the shower.
They dressed and ran out the door making it to the Inn only 5 minutes late.
"Really you two, you can not be late, especially to these affairs. You are the host and hostess of these gatherings you know." Emily said as they walked into the front door.
"Sorry Grandma, Logan and I went back to New Haven to get clothes and we fell asleep and forgot to set the alarm." Rory explained
"Please, don't be late again" She said and turned around and walked into the dining room
"Geez, Sorry about that Logan, she shouldn't have jumped on us like that" Rory said apologetically
"It's fine let's just get this over with" He said placing his hand on the small of her back giving her a sweet kiss on her temple and leading her into the dining room
"Hello everyone, thank you for coming and we are very sorry we are late" Rory said in her best hostess tone "Please shall we begin dinner" she finished her thought; even though it was only there close family and friends she had learned that the formality was indeed needed especially with her grandparents and his grandfather and sister there, it was a respect issue. They sat down and the waiters brought the first course.
Dinner was quiet and somber as expected.
"If I could have everyone's attention?" Logan asked of the group Rory was shocked she didn't know he was going to say anything
"I want to thank everyone for coming tonight, the next couple of days are going to be trying for all of us and I was happy when my wife suggested this small gathering of just family and close friends" he said with a smile looking at Rory "I don't really have anything prepared to say about my father, you all know to well the relationship I had with him, and I will be forever grateful to you Rory, that we were able to form the relationship that I had always wanted with him in the end, even if it was for a short time, that time was priceless and I will keep it with me always." He said, Rory stood up and hugged him and kissed him sweetly.
"Also, I want to thank Emily for helping Rory set everything up for the funeral" he choked on the word it was the first time he had used the actual word "You, Richard, Loralei and Chris have helped me in more ways than you know. Thank you all and please enjoy you dessert" Logan said and excused himself from the table "If you would all excuse me for a moment" he whispered something in Rory's ear and left the table.
"I just need to get some air, I will be right back" he said to her before leaving she nodded and he left
"Hey sweets" Loralei said taking a seat in Logan's chair "Everything ok?" she asked sympathetically
"Yeah, he just needed a little air" she noted "This is harder than he thought it would be" she added looking toward the from door "Do you think I should let him a lone, because it is killing me just sitting here" she asked her mother
"Go to him, he'll let you know if he wants to be alone" Loralei said rubbing her daughters back; she realized how close she too had become with Mitchum and could see the pain in her eyes.
"If you would all excuse me, I would like to check on Logan" she said not really looking for a response, she stood and walked in the same path Logan had and grabbed the waiter
"Can you meet me in the foyer, with a glass of Scotch and a white wine please?" she asked the young waiter
"No problem, Mrs. Huntzberger" he replied and walked out of the room
Rory collected her drinks and walked out onto the front porch to find Logan sitting all the way in the corner looking at the sky.
"Thought you could use this" she said handing him his drink
"Thanks" he replied shortly
"Can I sit or would you like me to go?" She asked hoping he would invite her
"Of course" he said looking at the seat next to him, she took it and noticed the tears in his eyes. She stood up and sat in his lap.
"I want to make a toast" she said in a whisper
"A toast?" he said surprised
"To a great man, whose life was cut too short" She began "and also to another great man whose life has just begun" she said looking into his eyes. "To Mitchum and to You"
"To Mitchum" he said taking a sip of his drink "I love you Rory"
"I love you too, Logan and thank you for your little speech in there"
"I like to give credit where credit is due" he said trying to joke
"Are you ok?" She asked "I know you aren't ok, but are you ok?" She repeated
He chuckled "I know what you mean, and to be honest, no I am not ok" he said turning his head back towards the sky "It's not fair, why did we wait until the end, why couldn't we have done this years ago" he said the anger was evident in his voice
"Do you want a stock answer or what I really believe" she said
"I want the truth" he said looking at his beautiful wife sitting in his lap knowing he probably isn't going to like what her heard.
"Sometimes things happen, you can't control them. Even if you had tried to reconcile with your father, earlier, it wouldn't have worked. He was all consumed by his work and status to see anything clearly. He would have seen your efforts as either weak or that you were looking for something big, like another year off of school or something" she said trying to lighten the blow of what she just said
"You are right" was all he said he squeezed his arms around her as tight as he could then after a few minutes of silence went back inside.
AN: I think it is a funny place to end this, but I thought it was getting too long. I will continue writing the next chapter and will post it soon.