AN: Hope you like it, I am not quite sure. I hit a little writers block. I have a few different avenue's I could take, any suggestion?
Chapter 22
They spent the afternoon mingling with friends, colleagues and family, Christopher and Logan were becoming close and really forming a bond.
Things had been working out great between Loralie and Chris, they moved a few months ago, Loralie was still getting use to not living in Stars Hollow but she was still there most of the time, so that helped. They decided not to sell the house, just in case Rory wanted to visit or if Loralie ever got stuck. She did miss Luke and of course his coffee but he made his choice and so did she, she wanted to be happy and she was.
Loralie, Chris, Finn, Colin, Steph, Paris and Doyle decided to stay the night to have a Gilmore Movie Night and to wallow; normally wallowing was for break up's but this seemed right. They had invited Honor and Josh to stay but they had to get back to New York, Josh had to get back to work. They all went and changed into 'Lounge Wear' as it was affectionately called by Logan and Mitchum and watched Wall Street, Trading Places and Casablanca; all Mitchum's favorites.
"So, I hear you are going to move into the Smithsonian" Loralie said after the last guest had left
"Very funny, Mom and yes we are going to remodel a bit and move in after I graduate" she said confidently
"You sure kid, this is a far cry from where you grew up" she said honestly to her daughter "Hell, this is a far cry from where I grew up" she added this house was definitely much larger than the Gilmore's.
"I know, but this house has been in Logan's family for a very long time we decided to try to make it ours, you know warm it up a bit and give it a try" she said trying to convince her mother it really is a good thing "in fact, I wanted to get those names of the designers you used at the Inn"
"Really, what about all the marble and the pretentious antiques" She said with a bitter tone
"Look I know that you probably never saw me in a mansion, especially at 22 but this is it, I married a billionaire whom I love and who loves me" she began with tears in her eyes "I am sorry if you can't accept that" she knew she was over exaggerating a bit, but, she didn't need this from her mother right now.
"I am sorry, this came out wrong and I just hope you are getting back doored into the DAR" Loralie said with an apologetic tone
"Mom, I am already a member of the DAR" she said sarcastically "But seriously, Logan doesn't want me to be a trophy wife. We both have an assistant to take care of our schedules and as far as the parties; the Huntzbergers have a few annual parties they, I mean we throw, and I will have to learn how to handle planning them. Grandma already said she will help and I am sure you will help too." Rory said informing her mother she knows exactly what her responsibilities are "I knew this when I married him, Mom, the only things that are different is that Mitchum isn't here anymore and now, we will be living here." she said pointing to her surroundings.
They all settled in for a night of movies, Rory was still reeling from what her mother had said. She wasn't mad; on the contrary, she was beginning to believe that this is truly where she belonged. Her entire life she never truly fit in, she was shy and awkward, Logan had changed that and slowly she came out of her shell and became the confident woman she is today. Loralie saw that and that is what made her nervous, Rory actually enjoyed the life her mother hated. Rory often thinks that maybe if her Emily was a little less controlling and accepting of Loralei's personality, if Loralei would have in fact run away from the life. How ironic; that 22 years later she is now slowly reentering it now that she is back with Christopher.
Rory was sitting quietly in Logan's lap as everyone was watching the movies. Nobody was mocking just sitting and watching the movies; Mitchum's movies. He could see that Rory wasn't watching them, she was thinking about something, biting on her lower lip and staring blankly at the screen.
"You ok?" he whispered in her ear breaking her from her trance.
"Yes, just tired. Do you think we could go up to bed?" She asked
"Sure" he said pushing her lightly to stand up "Good night all, we are beat and are going to bed" Logan said to the group collectively
"Good night guys, thanks for everything" Rory said leaning over to kiss her mom and dad.
"Good night sweets" Loralei said "Sorry about before" she added quietly
"It's fine mom, really" she said back to her
They walked out of the theatre room and up to their room. Rory was still thinking as Logan led her up the stairs and into his room.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked sweetly "I can tell something is running through that head of yours" he said smirking
"Do you really want to know?" She asked him seriously, he nodded "OK"
She began telling him first what had happened with her mother then went into detail of how she truly felt about her life.
"I don't mean to sound ungrateful, I loved growing up in Stars Hollow I wouldn't be the person I am today without living there, but I don't belong there anymore; I could never go back." She said without remorse of her findings "Granted it has a lot to do with you, I could never be a trophy wife, and I know you won't let me be one. I know, even if Dad hadn't made us the offer that he did, you still would have let me be me" she said while they were lying next to one another in bed. She had been rambling on, through getting ready for bed only stopping to brush her teeth.
"Wow, and you though of all this while we were watching 2 movies" he said kissing her on top of her head.
"Yeah, it just kept replaying in my head" she said "I am happy, and I think my mother is having a hard time accepting this life for me, even though it's going to be her life now too" she finished with a sigh
"Don't worry, Ace you know sometimes, well all the time, your mother speaks before she thinks and she probably felt bad about the way things came out" Logan said rationally
"I know, she said as much" she stated
"Come on, let's go to bed. We have to meet with the lawyers tomorrow" Logan said sadly, it was to be the reading of the will.
"I know and after that I need to go to Yale. Do you want to come with me?" she asked hopefully
"Sure" he said "Tomorrow is my last day and then I have to report to the paper, and life starts again"
"Yeah I know, I want to go meet my professors and get some books" she said
"Sounds good then we can go to the pub and get completely inebriated" he smiled
They went to sleep holding one another, still hurting that Mitchum was gone but facing that life doesn't stop. The alarm rang too quickly for both of them, they jumped up and began there morning routine.
While looking in the mirror Logan fixed his blue suit jacket and straightened his red tie. Rory buttoning the pants of her white linen suit she had chosen to wear, she thought at first that it was disrespectful to wear white right after the funeral, but it was also a suit that Mitchum had made for her.
She remembered that day, she and Logan walked into his apartment to find Mitchum with his tailor.
"Hey Dad" Logan said while pulling off his suit jacket and sitting on the couch.
"Hi Dad, I like that suit" she said of the blue pinstripe suit that was not quite finished
"Thanks" he said as he watched his daughter-in-law take off her shoes and sit on her feet on the couch and begin to flip through the fabric samples that the tailor had brought. She kept looking at a beautiful white linen swatch.
"That's beautiful, yes?" the little Italian man said towards Rory
"Yes, yes it is" she said just above a whisper
It was at that point that Mitchum had nodded to the tailor unknown to Rory. Two weeks later a beautiful, white linen suit was delivered to the apartment. Rory was truly touched and shocked.
Rory was looking in the full length mirror that was in their closet she had paired the suit with a black lace shell and black heels. She smiled sadly thinking of him as Logan walked back into the closet.
"That suit is spectacular on you" he said from behind her as he wrapped her arms around her waist "I guess I know where I get my eye for sizes from" he said smirking
"Thanks. Do you think it's ok to wear?" she asked still unsure about the white
"Its fine, Ace. Come on let's go have breakfast and then head over to the lawyers" he said pulling her out of the room
"Wait I have to get my purse" she said while grabbing her Gucci bag and throwing her wallet, keys and lip gloss in it. "Ready" she said running back
Two hours later, Rory, Logan, Honor and Elias where sitting in a opulent office, waiting to hear what they already knew, Logan was to inherit the majority of the vast estate while Honor, besides her trust fund was to receive another 10 million. She was shocked; she had always thought that she was to receive nothing. The next thing to be discussed was the dozens of houses and apartments around the world. Logan was to take over the main Huntzberger mansion in Harford and also the penthouse in New York, the others were to be shared.
The attorney looked up at the small group "as you can see there were a few changes, Mitchum had made prior to his death" he began "He also changed things in respect to your mother"
"What do you mean?" Honor said, they were all shocked when Shira had not shown up for the wake, but she did in fact show up at the funeral
Shira walked as they were stepping out of the limousine at the cemetery.
"Mom what are you doing here" an irritated Honor said
"I have every right to be here" she hissed
"Mom, you need to leave" Honor countered
"NO! I am not leaving" she stated "You will not force me out of this, I put up with your fathers infidelity and arrogance for 30 years, I deserve to be here" she said just above a whisper
"Mom, Honor not here, please" Logan said in a reprimanding voice
"Logan make her leave" Honor said towards her brother
"Honor just let her be" Logan said "But Mom, you are not invited back to our house after the service" he stated still holding onto Rory tightly
"What do you mean your house" she hissed "That is my house" she stated
"No Mom, it is a Huntzberger house, it has been willed to me and Rory" he stated "Now please end this, people are beginning to arrive" Logan said turning and walking toward the tented grave site.
Shira didn't say another word, she never addressed Rory and vice versa. After the service as they were heading towards the car Shira left but not before she said "This is not over"
"What happened?" Logan asked exasperated
"Nothing really, your father left her a sizable fortune and of course the townhouse in Manhattan" the attorney said "However, she is contesting the will about the house in Hartford"
"Well, I am sorry I must interject" Elias said "That House was built by my father and has been passed down to the Huntzberger heirs and their families" he began with anger in his voice "there is no way that gold digging retch is getting that house. Do I make myself perfectly clear" Elias stated in a voice that was not to be reckoned with
"Yes sir I understand what you are saying but as Mitchum's wife she is entitled to the primary residence" the attorney was trying to rationalize "Maybe she could live there with Rory and Logan as you did, Elias, with Mitchum and Shira"
"Absolutely not" Rory said in an outraged tone "If Elias wants to live there that is fine even Honor and Josh are more than welcome, but Shira will never be welcome to live there" she finished and was now livid.
"Rory please, not here" Logan stated
"Logan I am sorry, I know she is your mother but I am sorry, if she moves in there I will not, we can live somewhere else" she finished "Are we done here?" she asked the attorney
"Yes, Mrs. Huntzberger" he replied "I will work with Elias and Logan on this matter, please do not worry yourself" he finished trying to calm her down
"Fine, thank you very much. Now if you will excuse me Logan I will meet you in the car" she said "Honor, I will call you next week, Elias you too, we'll have dinner" she said politely and stormed out of the office
"Good going Logan" Honor said
"Shut up" he snipped "I would not let Mom live with us" Logan stated more to himself than anyone else "Mr. Dugrey, fix this please" Logan stated "If you will all excuse me" he stood and left the office
The ride over to Yale was quiet; they said nothing to one another. Logan was reading while he was waiting in a courtyard as Rory met with her professors. An hour later she sat down next to him.
"Hey" she said to him, he closed his book
"How did you make out?" he asked lightly
"Fine, look I am sorry" she said "I over reacted"
"Don't worry, I am sorry I snapped at you in front of everyone" he said kissing her on the cheek then stood up and walked them towards the bookstore "I should have just said, Don't worry, my mother will not be living with us"
"I know you wouldn't let that happen" she said "I was just so shocked"
"Me too, my grandfather and I will fix this. She has no rights to the house, it was in her prenump. And I am sorry to say that it's in ours too." He added
"Are you trying to cause a fight?" she asked "because I can't see why you would bring that up now" she said a little hurt
"Sorry, I don't want to hurt you but its true, the house stays with the Huntzberger men" she stated
"What if we don't have a son?" she asked curiously
"What do you mean?" he asked a little confused
"Just what I said, what if we don't have a son? What if we have daughters?" she asked again, almost seductively
"We will have to keep trying until we have a son" he said wrapping his arms around his wife, hoping there little spat was over, she kissed him. Yup, spat is over he thought and kissed her again.