Chapter 21:
Logan had been walking around for a while. When Lorelai and Rory were busy with the inn-name contest, he decided to get away and take a walk. He wasn't ready to face Rory. Not yet. He knew he had to make a decision and deep down he already knew what that decision would be. He just wished things could be different.
xxx
Rory was looking for Logan. The last time she saw him was during Lorelai's little name show. Where could he be? She was very anxious to learn about his lunch date with his parents. She had been meaning to ask him about it, but they had been surrounded by people all of the time.
So now she was looking for him. The rest of his friends were all cuddled up on the couches in the movie room, watching Casablanca. She had gone up to his room, but he wasn't there either. She was starting to get worried and went to the parking lot to see if his car was still there. Thankfully she noticed it was still there. It least he didn't bail out on her, she thought. But where could he be?
She walked over to the campfire in the backyard. Lane and her band mates were there playing music and singing songs. She also saw Tristan sitting there, together with Jess and Paris. When he saw her, he smiled at her and immediately she felt her spirit rising.
She walked over to them and sat down next to Tristan.
"Hi! Are you guys enjoying yourself? She asks them.
"Yeah, it has been a great weekend." Paris replies.
They all sit still for a while and listen to the music. Tristan has seen the anxiety on Rory's face and decides to ask her about it.
"Are you ok, Rory? You look a bit spooked." He softly says to her, not wanting to let Paris and Jess hear.
"I'm ok, but I've been looking for Logan. Have you seen him by any chance?"
Paris, being Paris, couldn't help but eavesdrop and responds immediately.
"Huntzberger? What did he do this time? I thought you two were past all of this, being soooo in love and all. What did he do? Is he getting drunk again with Finn? I'll just look for him and give him a piece of my mind." Paris says while standing up.
Rory looks shocked and tears are starting to form in her eyes. Not about what Paris said, but because she was getting really worried about Logan.
Jess sees the shock on Rory's face and turns to Paris.
"You are not going anywhere, Paris. It is not polite of you to eavesdrop. When will start learning to mind your own business?" Jess says to Paris.
"Don't you tell me what or what not to do, Mariano!" Paris replies and marches away angrily.
"Fine!" Jess replies and walks of the other way.
Tristan turns to Rory. "Are you ok?"
Rory sighs. "I'm fine. I'm just worried about Logan. I never got a chance to talk to him, since he returned. And now I can't find him, which is freaking me out."
Tristan grabs her by the shoulder and looks into her eyes.
"It is gonna be ok, Rory. Just let him find you on his own terms. He probably has a lot to process. Just know that he cares a lot for you, but that he is in a very difficult position right now. But believe me! He knows how special you are." Tristan says caressing her cheek softly.
Rory looks away shyly, with a pink blush on her cheeks. How is it that he can always make her feel so good and confused at the same time?
"I'm just worried about what will happen next."
"I cannot promise you that everything is gonna be just fine. I just know that whatever happens, in the end you will turn out alright. You Gilmore girls are as tough as they come. And remember, whatever happens next with Logan, know that you've always got me to lean on. I'll always be there for you."
"Thanks Tristan!" Rory replies and gives him a big hug.
xxx
Logan has made up his mind and is now walking back to the inn. Rory must be freaking out by now. He stops when he sees Rory sitting with Tristan by the campfire. He sees the two of them talking, but cannot hear what they are saying. Suddenly he sees Tristan caress her cheek. His blood starts to boil and all he wants to do is to run over there and punch Tristan in the face. But instead he just stands there and watches Rory's reaction. Even from where he is standing he can see she is blushing and that she turns her face away from Tristan. Then they are talking again and he sees Rory give Tristan a big hug.
He had been keeping a close watch on Rory and Tristan ever since he found out about Tristan's true feelings for Rory. He had been a bit jealous of their friendship and was afraid that maybe Rory was gonna change her mind about him. And although Rory seemed oblivious to Tristan's feelings, he could see that Tristan definitely had an effect on her every time he touched her or called her Mary. Rory would never acknowledge that though and believed that she was in love with him, Logan. She probably was, and he loved her and all her quirks. She was the most amazing person he ever met. All he wanted to do is to be with her, but he now knew that they couldn't be together without one of them having to give up his goals in life. They could never be a hundred percent happy with one another. It was time for him to let her go and find her happiness somewhere else, just like he would have to find his somewhere else.
He walked over to the campfire and both Tristan and Rory looked up at him. He smiles at Rory and she smiles back.
"Hey can I talk to you, Ace?"
"Sure! I've been looking all over for you. You really got me worried."
"Let's take a walk!"
The two of them walk quietly for a little while, just holding hands. After a little while Rory stops walking and turns to him.
"You can tell me, Logan. Tell me what you're feeling. And don't worry about my feelings, just be honest."
Logan just looks at her and after a while he caresses her cheek.
"Ace you are so smart and beautiful and you had me hooked the moment we had our little debate in the hallway. All I want to do is to hold on to you and never let you go. But I know, and I think you know too, that I will have to let you go."
Rory just looks into his eyes, but doesn't say a word.
"I loved the way things were and didn't want any of this to change, but this whole ordeal with my parents made me think about our future. And no matter how I twist or turn it, we are bound to become unhappy if we stay together, no matter how much we love each other. The fact is that our goals in life are too different. And I thought that I could just change my goals, because I never wanted to be in my father's business anyway. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I do want to take over my father's empire. I'm very proud of his accomplishments and want to make sure they don't disappear. I love my way of living and cannot see myself happy doing anything else. And as for you, we talked about your future plans. You want to be a reporter, an oversea correspondent, if possible. And even in case you change your mind about that, I know you'll focus on new goals. That is just who you are and what I love about you. You could never be happy, living next to me in my world. It would suffocate you to be only known as my wife and to have to attend social functions and gatherings day after day. I could never do that to you, Rory!"
Rory just nods with teary eyes. "I think I know that. I've been thinking about the same things the last couple of weeks, but just wasn't ready to admit it to myself."
She flings herself around his neck and starts to cry. "It …will…just..be..so hard…to..let…go..of….you." Rory says trying to speak.
"I know!" Logan answers softly and holds on ever tighter, while he starts to cry silently.
They stay in this position for a long time, till there are no more tears left. Finally Rory breaks free from him. She looks at him and wipes away the tears on his cheeks.
He does the same for her and gives her on last sweet kiss. "Just know that I'm not willing to let you go and disappear from my life completely. I will need your advice and company once in a while to keep my feet on solid ground. But I do think it is best for us to not see each other for a while. Otherwise we won't be able to get our lives back on track.
Rory nods and they silently start walking back to the inn.
xxx
Lorelai is sitting next to Luke, nearby the campfire. They had somewhat isolated themselves from the rest of the group. Lorelai was leaning into Luke and they had been sitting like that quite some time now. Just enjoying each others company, silently.
"Luke?"
"Hhummm."
"I'm so happy right now."
"Me too!" He replies.
"I can't stop thinking of the time to come."
"Yeah, I've been thinking about the same thing."
"Awww, already picturing throwing that baseball to your little girl?" Lorelai says teasingly.
"No! Nothing like that. ……What did you say? Little girl? Are you sure?"
Lorelai just smiles and nods her head up and down. "Not a hundred percent, but yes
The doctor was pretty sure."
"Wow………wow…..a little girl!" Luke says totally astonished
"I know!"
"That's really great! I really hope she looks like you though. We wouldn't want her to look like me."
"Why not? Little Lucia would look adorable, just like her father." Lorelai says just to make fun of him.
"Oh, we are not naming her after me. We definitely have to consider giving her a proper name. Cause we both know, we cannot trust you with that."
Lorelai just smiles.
"No I was thinking about where we are going to live." Luke continues.
"I know I want to be as close to you as possible and I was thinking, that maybe we should move in together. That is, if you want to of course!" Luke starts rambling.
Lorelai shuts him up with a kiss. "Of course I would like us to move in together. Have you also already figured out, where we should live?"
"Well, I've been thinking about that, and I think we both agree that I have to get rid of my apartment."
Lorelai just nods in agreement.
"I could move in with you, if you want me to. But I could also buy the Twickham house. Taylor's museum isn't running so well and I think he is considering of selling it at the moment. But I'll leave the choice up to you, cause I want you to be happy and comfortable."
"The Twickham house. Wow, I never thought about that. It sure is a great house, but I will need some time to think about it." Lorelai replies.
Luke gently kisses her face "Well, it is just a thought. Take all the time you need."
They continue just sitting there in silence, watching the fire. Suddenly Lorelai notices Rory and Logan appearing from the woods. They were holding hands, but both had a very sad look on their faces. Then she sees the two of them hug and Logan walking away.
"Hmm Luke? I think Rory needs me right now. Do you mind?"
"No, go ahead!" He replies.
So she gets up and walks over to Rory, enclosing her in a tight embrace, stroking her hair.
xxx
Tristan had been waiting by the campfire. He had this feeling that Rory was going to be devastated when she returned.
He had been lost in his own thoughts, staring into the fire, when suddenly he notices Logan standing next to him.
"You better be good to her, Dugrey!" Logan told him and then Logan just walked away.
He immediately turns around to look for Rory, but relaxes when he sees Rory in a tight embrace with her mother.
He gets up and walks inside to join his friends in the movie room. Rory doesn't need him right now. She has got Lorelai and that is all she needs.
xxx
A/N: That's it for this chapter. I'm sorry Rogan fans, I hope I didn't disappoint you to much, but it is definitely going to be a Trory.
Anyway, pleeeeeaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssssseee review!
