The redcoats are coming
New Year's Eve in Stars Hollow was a success indeed. As much as everyone would hate to admit, Taylor Doose nailed the occasion with a great marketing strategy. The man spreaded flyers on small towns nearby, bringing visitors from the local area to a secret event with Hep Alien as main attraction. The gig guaranteed Lane and Zack part of the money for the music school project. In return, the band delivered a kick ass performance, followed by fireworks to celebrate the beginning of 2017.
The night was so great that the whole town was still talking about it two days after. A reaction encouraged by a photo of Lane and the guys on the cover of Gazette's first issue of the year. Rory used her privileges as the editor to assure the band would make the headlines.
Now the journalist was one of the people holding a copy of the paper, mesmerized by the image of the local talent that looked like true rock stars. Thrilled for her friends, Rory spaced out for a while, ignoring the clothes spreaded all over her bed. She was supposed to be packing for the trip to Nantucket. They were leaving in two days. However no outfits were picked yet. The empty suitcase was a living proof of how badly she wanted to ditch the visit to her grandmother.
Lorelai wasn't ready to hit the road either. But at least she had an excuse. The inn has been really busy with the extra guests from the holidays and she only realized today there were no clean appropriate clothes for Emily Gilmore's standards. So she was upstairs, concentrated on doing laundry by the time the doorbell rang.
The sudden noise brought Rory back to the present time and place. They weren't expecting any visitors today, but showing up without notice was a trademark in Stars Hollow. The young Gilmore didn't want Lorelai to lose track of the laundry mission. So, she quickly got up from the messy bed and yelled on her way to the front door.
"I get it!"
The open door revealed a very familiar face. The young man was wearing his typical charming smile and his haute couture suit. Rory's heart skipped a beat, surprised to see him standing on the porch. Almost two months have passed since she sent an email to announce very important news and she expected an answer. Nonetheless, she didn't imagine he would deliver it in person.
He looked handsome as always and his presence obviously ignated many memories, good and bad, in Rory's mind. A confused mix of feelings stirring inside her. Overall she was and would always be glad to see him. Yet, it felt different since their last adventure. She was not adrift anymore or grasping desperately at him to escape her life.
Somewhere between the moment they said goodbye and she got in her own car back home, Rory stopped spiraling out of control. For the first time in years, she was able to have her feet on the ground. At that moment, she clicked her heels like Dorothy and left the fantasy of Oz behind. No matter how terrifying the real circumstances were in Kansas, or in this case, Connecticut. Rory was no longer afraid to face them.
"Logan," she finally spoke, after a short pause, taking everything in.
"Hey, Ace..." He replied in a calm tone and ducked his head. "I felt the situation probably demanded a face to face conversation."
"Yeah... Come on in."
Rory stepped aside so he could make his way to the living room.
"The house didn't change much... I think it was exactly like this when I visited 10 years ago", Logan said with amusement, looking around the place.
"Well, we upgraded to a flat screen TV," Rory jested in an effort to make small talk until they were ready to address the real issue that dragged Logan from London to her humble home in Stars Hollow. As she watched him awkwardly standing there , it was impossible to ignore how the powerful man contrasted with the modest decoration and furniture. It was not like this in the past, but much had changed. They both had.
"Hey, please, sit." Rory pointed to the couch, but was too nervous to sit herself. She continued shifting from one foot to another. "Can I get you anything? Water, coffee, earl grey tea..."
"Straight bourbon?"
"Sorry, sir, it's not on the menu." She chuckled.
"Come on, a house without whiskey? Have you learned nothing from Finn?"
"It seems like our liquor license has expired..." Rory laughed, intending to carry on the harmless bantering and keep things light. Unfortunately, she didn't think through the rest of the phrase. "I simply didn't bother to renew it. I'm not exactly drinking since..." She stopped talking at once. Her face revealing a deep red tone.
"Ouch! Straight to the point, like a true journalist." Logan cleared his throat, a little less confident. "I'm sorry I didn't respond sooner. I had a lot to think about."
"Don't worry. I was processing everything myself too."
Logan finally sat down, before starting again. "When I read your email, my first impulse was to get on a plane and come here with a big speech, promising I was going to cut ties with the Huntzberger empire, leave my work and everything else in London so we could build a life from scratch and have this great adventure..."
"Hmmm... Then you came to your senses and realized it would be a recipe for disaster? Because you would just resent me eventually."
Logan gave her an upset glance and attempted to show his best smile. "Let's just say I don't know if it would work either, Ace." He paused and clenched his jaw. "You see... San Francisco was a great experience, but it changed things for me. I was living from paycheck to paycheck there. Working basically to afford the bills every month. I kind of felt like Marty... and I was not satisfied. To be honest, I was... well... pretty unhappy with the way my life turned out. The whole situation made me look differently at the opportunities I had. You told me this once, remember? That my family offered opportunities many people would kill for. So I decided to take them. When I came back, the Huntzberger empire was not a burden anymore. Today I'm not ashamed to say I am excited for the perspectives. I have autonomy to call the shots and I'm really good at the business. No job I had in California opened the same doors. I'm thriving in that world. I can't walk out."
"I know. I saw it. I didn't ask you to. And I'm not doing it now." Rory stated.
"Yeah... your message was loud and clear. Not only on the email. The way you left me and the guys in New Hampshire too. I just needed to explain where I'm standing," he sounded a bit rueful.
"Logan, I really want you to understand that the decision I made doesn't mean I despise everything we lived together. When we were younger you made me explore a side of myself I maybe never would alone. I got to be careless and daring and I loved you for that. We had this amazing history. It was great... So great that with my life going downhill, it was comforting for me to reach and hold on to that past. But it was not fair to you. I was after an escape, not a future. Because I can't see you here, living a modest life, and I can't picture myself there, dealing constantly with your family shenanigans."
"Mitchum scarred you for life, huh? He really was an asshole to you... And my mom was no better, or my grandfather. Jesus! The Huntzbergers do make an impression," he scoffed and shook his head. "No wonder you don't want to raise a baby in such a warm environment."
"Honor was always nice," Rory claimed with a half smile, trying to make him feel better.
"Oh! Lucky us!"
She sat beside Logan and touched his arm. "Despite the altercations, I don't think you should blame it all on the Huntzbergers. It is not just about your family..."
"What do you mean by that?"
"You knew the version of me in Emily and Richard Gilmore's realm. I was supposed to be only a visitor in that fancy world. But it was such an enticing lifestyle... that I started to change into someone else to fit in. The choices I made weren't always so wise and I carried on making bad choices as I got older. I guess I lost my way somehow. The truth is I don't belong there. It doesn't bring out the best of me."
Logan remained in silence, staring at his hands and studying her words. When he looked up to face Rory again, she suddenly acknowledged what has been consuming her since she opened the door. Guilt was also part of the whirlwind of feelings inside her.
"The worst thing is that I already knew all this when we started the Vegas agreement... That's the reason I almost didn't tell you about the baby," she confessed softly. "I probably owe you an apology for the mess it may cause with Mitchum, Odette and your entire life... However I realized it was not my place to make the decision for you, Logan. You have the right to say if you want to be involved with the child or not."
"I'm a big boy, Ace. It's not like you force me to do anything. Besides, my father doesn't control my life and he has no saying in this. As for Odette, I came clean about the situation and she asked time to think. I'm respecting it and giving her space," he shrugged. "The bottom line is: I'm glad you told me about the baby because I want to be in his or her life."
"Okay," Rory noticed she's been holding her breath until now. "Anyway, in order for this to work, we need to set some ground rules."
"Rules?"
"Yes... I grew up with a father popping in and out of my life. It hurt me a lot. I won't risk history to repeat itself. I can't sit by and watch the kid be repeatedly disappointed because you had to change plans at the last minute or were so involved in your own life that you forgot to show up at all. So, there's going to be a schedule for visits. If you miss too many, you are out. You will sign away your parental rights and I will raise Bennie alone."
"Bennie?"
"Oh, It's the baby's temporary nickname. Because we don't know yet if it's a boy or a girl. In the first ultrasound, it was just a form shaped as a bean. Hence... Bennie"
"Right, Bennie it is." Logan replied, quietly considering all the information.
"I know it's a big commitment," Rory remarked.
"I'm not backing out, Ace. I just need some time to figure out the logistics."
"Of course. I don't expect us to define all the terms right away. We'll discuss the details later. We can even establish the first year as a practise period. I only need you to understand that, after the adjustment phase, is game on. There are guidelines for sports and they've worked perfectly in ages. So consider this like baseball. Three strikes..."
"... I'm out. I got it!" He nodded and continued. "Since we clarified that now... Tell me. Do you need help until you publish the book?"
"No."
"Come on, Ace... Things cost money."
"Logan, I've got everything I need here. A bedroom and a garage full of stuff. Plus, the whole town as a support system. I promise I'll call if there's some emergency. But I think I made it clear what I expect from you and it is not your family name, money, influence or connections. In fact, I want the baby to be registered as a Gilmore. I prefer not to raise any concerns about inheritance, the throne succession or whatever in the Huntzberger empire. I am asking only one thing from you..."
"To be a present father," he finished the sentence, in consent.
"This is more than enough. Visit, call, facetime, email, text... I understand some of the alternatives are challenging with a newborn. Still, you know where I'm going with it, right?"
"Absolutely."
Although Rory was aware that things were easier said than done, his certainty meant the world to an emotional pregnant woman. She couldn't help the urge to hug him. The gesture caught Logan completely out of guard, but he returned the embrace until Rory pulled apart.
"I have something for you," she said and turned away from the couch. Logan's eyes followed her, until she entered her bedroom. Alone in the living room, he felt uncomfortable sitting still. The silence made him wonder if Lorelai was somewhere in the house, listening to the conversation to analyse word-by-word with her daughter later. He was absorbed in his assumptions when Rory came back, with an envelope in her hands. "Here."
Logan stood up, startled by the sound of her voice. He grabbed the package and opened it. Inside there was a CD with the label "Bennie's heartbeat" and the photo of the first ultrasound. He took the picture and observed it silently.
"We just started a completely new ride, huh?" He blurted, finally looking at Rory.
"It is surely not like anything I did before," she replied with a tender smile.
"Yeah... Let's do this," Logan gazed at the photo one more time and sighed, before putting it back in the envelope. "Sorry, I have to go. I need to get to a meeting in New York this afternoon," he continued. "But let me know as soon as you have the first draft of that custody arrangement or if you need anything at all."
"I'll have my people call your people. Don't worry," Rory said playfully and led the man to the front door.
She leaned on the doorframe and watched as Logan walked to the car. A scene that happened more than once throughout their lives. Each time inciting a different emotion for her. First, the painful goodbye a long time ago when he left for London and she watched in tears the doors of the elevator closing. Then the awkward breakup because she turned down his proposal after graduation, and recently, the farewell full of nostalgia in New Hampshire – a bittersweet moment that represented the end of the relationship they used to know.
This time Rory felt nothing like the past. It was strange how a sudden warmth took over her. She knew she would always care for him. But now she was not looking back. At last, she was moving forward and it seems Logan would be a part of this next phase of her life, just in a totally new role.
**** I know I am going for a different path than most fics. Still, it's good to see people reviewing, following and even choosing to favorite this story. I'd like to thank everyone who keeps supporting this crazy idea of mine.
A/N: This was the most difficult chapter so far! When I got the right beginning, I wasn't satisfied with the middle. And the ending was rewritten 5 times (LOL). But I wanted to be a impactful moment. The decision they made is going to take effort.
The revival showedLogan thriving in the family business and he was not even whining about it. The only thing I thought was "San Francisco really changed the way he sees the empire". In the end of season 7, I remember I suspected the SF project was not going to last and he would come back to the Huntzberger plan eventually. Why? Not because he is bad or something. Logan was born in luxury, wealthy is a part of who he is and even his previous acts of rebellion were paid by his family's money. He left with no trust fund (all his money - 3 million - was lost in that bad investment) and I believe he had a very tough time. No job would pay for the lifestyle he was used to. So, it was not a surprise for me to see him in London again, but it was interesting to notice he was not complaining (different from Christopher). It just made his character more complex and human. He admitted the situations he couldn't put up with.
But the fact that Logan is sticking with the empire doesn't prevent him to be a father. Is the arrangement going to work? Is he going to follow the rules and be present? Will Rory and Logan repeat Lorelai and Chris' mistakes or be adults about this new phase of their lives? What about Mitchum? Do you think he will do something? Is Rory going to be mature enough to teach Bennie how to balance a modesty life and the greatness of the Huntzberger empire? These are some of the questions ahead.