A/N Ok thanks again for the support, this is part two of Chapter 4. It's again on the longer side and in a lot of ways is a setup for later chapters but we're gonna see some more characters, namely Francine Hayden, and Shira, and Mitchum Huntzberger. Enjoy!


Chapter 4.5

It took Logan forty-five minutes to calm Rory down completely. Her grandparents and dad simply let him hold her and Emily fetched some ice for the red handprint on her cheek. When she stopped crying Chris knelt in front of her 'Ror, you know that you've got us right? But I need to ask something, that reaction, her hitting you, has it ever happened before?' Rory shook her head 'Dad I swear it's the first time she's ever hit me' Chris nodded and Logan breathed out 'I knew she would be angry about the engagement though' she half whispered 'I think she's been angling for Logan to break up when I graduate. The timing sucks for her too with the divorce and everything. What she said about not needing anything but each other...it's what she's always said when you left Dad. My entire childhood when we were in the potting shed after you left the Inn she would always say 'never mind baby girl all we need is each other you and me kid against the world.' it was like her catchphrase'. Logan's arm around her waist seemed to tighten as Chris's eyes went a shade darker. Francine had noted something.

'What do you mean the potting shed? Emily, Richard please tell me that you didn't let your daughter take our granddaughter to live in a shed! Christopher, how could you allow that?' Her voice had raised in volume. Richard seemed confused, Rory seemed to be trying to disappear, almost ashamed Logan was kissing the top of her head and Emily looked ashamed 'Francine I didn't know where they lived after she left us, not the details until Rory was sixteen. By then it was obvious that she was happy in Stars Hollow, we'd just gotten her back in our lives Lorelai would have taken her again and run if I'd pushed it so I gave Rory a room here and made sure to let her know that she was ALWAYS welcome. You and Straub aren't exactly innocent. The first time Rory met you...do I even have to tell you how she reacted?' Rory looked up at that 'hey Grandma not necessary it was more Straub than Francine and they have both apologized to me about that. Straub left me a letter when he died. I just wanted to celebrate tonight, so Grandpa can we get that Champagne you've had chilling since Logan visited you. You can all be angry at Mom some other time. I'm fine, I've got Logan and you guys and we'll have to have dinner another night, the funny thing is that this one was supposed to be the low-stress dinner' she half-joked, 'we've got the Huntzbergers tomorrow night' Logan shuddered next to her theatrically.

Francine considered the couple, she knew through her son that Logan had left the Huntzberger family business after a bad business move, but Rory's apparent dislike of them obviously went deeper. 'What do you mean by that Rory? The Huntzbergers will be thrilled, Shira has been saying since Gigi was born that if she was older joining our families would be amazing.' Rory choked on the glass of champagne she had sipped and Logan mirrored her reaction whilst Chris rolled his eyes 'Um Mrs. Hayden I don't think my parents know that Rory is Chris' daughter' Logan informed her 'when I took her to meet them when were first dating they were pretty horrible, my Dad even said that Rory didn't have 'it' to make it as a journalist. My Grandfather equally means, something about 'unsuitable people marrying into the family' bear in mind at the time we had been dating for what was it babe...less than a week officially' Rory nodded.

Francine had a glint in her eye at the comment of 'unsuitable people marrying into the family' a glint that spelled social suicide for the Huntzbergers. 'What if I called and invited them to a party next week to celebrate my Granddaughter's engagement, the Hayden Heiress' engagement- a personal phone invite, close family and friends only- no names mentioned. Don't mention who Rory's father is tomorrow night allow them to be as shortsighted and snobbish as they can be. Next week though...' her voice drifted off and Emily was smiling along with her. The evil smirks that were gracing the men's faces would put cartoon villains to shame.

Logan whistled through his front teeth 'Mrs. Hayden, remind me to never piss you off' his comment caused the group to laugh. Rory just leaned closer to Logan as the evening progressed. They ate dinner eventually, the ladies kept the conversation light and airy and it almost seemed like the drama of earlier in the evening had been forgotten. Looking at the eyes of Richard and Christopher it was very clear that it wasn't. The second shoe would drop eventually and the potting shed comment would be brought up at another point.

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The next day dawned with Rory again curled around Logan in their hotel suite. They had a plan for the night, go to his parents, tell them that they were engaged and when the yelling started leave. Then they would head to New Haven meet with the Life and Death Brigade, Lane, and Paris with their significant others and have a small party for their friends, it was Saturday night after all.

Rory awoke when Logan climbed out of bed to get some coffee at about eight-thirty. She let him make both of them a coffee before kissing her shoulder and handing her the first cup of the day 'morning gorgeous'. She smiled at him and happily accepted the coffee cup as he grabbed the hotel phone to order room service for breakfast. 'You know you still haven't mentioned anything about San Francisco- if we're moving there I kind of need to know about it' she smiled at him. He looked at her, 'your grandpa and I have a plan to keep me on the east coast babe. This is your home, where your family is based. Your whole life. I know that you would prefer to do your master's at an Ivy if not Yale then Cornell or Columbia if we end up in New York.'

Rory looked at him, sat next to her on the bed, and was slightly confused, 'what's the plan Logan- you working for my Grandpa?' he shook his head 'we use some leverage that we've got through our shares in HPG to get a decent contract with my father- get me out of his control, I still need to see if your dad is onboard but with him, your grandpa and my own shares we own a controlling interest in HPG. If he puts up too much of a fight I could ask the board to remove him as CEO and I have to say I think they would do it, his way of managing the company whilst it makes money right now, will not work in five years. Hell, it may not work in three.' she nodded, they'd had that conversation before, 'are you sure about potentially working for your Dad again? Logan, you left for a reason, babe.' Logan looked at Rory, she was worried about his choice because she wanted what was best for him and it made him love her more. 'I left because I didn't want to be controlled by him Rory- not because I didn't like the business. HPG is my future, it's our future.' she smiled at that 'I would always come back to it. If I stick around and with the right type of contract, meaning ironclad, I want to be able to guide it through some of the challenges that we are facing going forward that Dad just can't see.'

Rory nodded 'ok so in this contract what exactly do you want in it so that you can't be controlled. We don't want another London situation' Logan smiled as she, ever the prepared student, pulled out a legal pad and a pen and started making a list of everything that he wanted in a contract.


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Several hours later Logan pulled up to the Huntzberger mansion conveniently fifteen minutes late. Helping Rory out of the car he kissed her passionately for a second 'whatever they say doesn't matter, I love you so much Rory and like you said yesterday I'm going to marry you whatever happens' she nodded and swiped her thumb over his mouth removing the traces of lip gloss. 'I love you too' she then went to take her ring off 'uh no I meant what I said last night, you don't have to take it off ever again' Rory shook her head 'Logan let's take the sting out of the tail at least and tell them rather than Honor squealing about it, though I have to say I'm looking forward to your Mother's face when that happens.' he smirked 'I'm starting to get a complex about you handing me this thing' as he placed the ring securely in his suit jacket pocket. Together, hand in hand they approached the front door and rang the bell.

Honor answered with her infectious smile 'thank god you're here, let me see it.' pulling Rory's left hand towards her 'oh, sorry I assumed…' Logan left her hanging for a second before putting her out of her misery as he entered his parent's home 'no squealing but yes- we're trying to surprise everyone- squeal in a minute Honor' who looked like a kid on Christmas who was waiting to open presents on a sugar high, but she nodded and led them to the seating area that Rory remembered from her one previous visit to the house, she noted the Valasquez was still there with interest. She noted that Elias Huntzberger was sat in the same chair as last time flanked by Mitchum, Shira was sat next to her daughter and Josh looked the most relieved at their arrival to the room.

The room couldn't have been colder in the atmosphere. Rory had to repress a shudder at the expressions when they noticed that she was there. Shira looked at her with pure loathing first and had obviously decided not to be polite 'Logan I thought that you wanted a family dinner. What's Rory doing here?' Logan looked at his mother, levelly, she obviously hadn't noticed Honor's change in body language 'well Mom, I consider Rory family and I thought you'd want to get to know the girl that just agreed to marry me.' He pressed the ring back into her hand as Honor jumped up followed by Josh to crush the couple into a hug, before grabbing her left hand to look at the ring 'Logan it's gorgeous, you've got good taste baby bro'. Logan shook his head 'Honor you helped me pick that ring out three months ago.' Rory laughed at their repartee, ignoring the eyes that were boring into her back from the older generation.

Elias looked almost resigned, Shira was looking angry but Mitchum was obviously apoplectic. Shira broke the wall of silence first 'you can't marry her Logan. She's nothing but a gold digger like her mother.' Rory turned to look at Shira 'excuse me. My mother is the opposite of a gold digger.' Shira just looked at her 'yes your mother was such the opposite of a gold digger that she married the exceedingly rich Christopher Hayden and just a few months later they're separated and now I hear they are divorcing. Your mother marries him in a quickie elopement after they've been together for just a few months, they get married with no prenup and she can now legally take half of his family's money. His mother told me all about it.' Logan held Rory's hand and tightened his grip to stop her from commenting though he felt in her body she wouldn't she was just going to take it, tears were starting to coarse down her cheeks though. Honor looked between the couple, deciding to step in for a second 'Mom I really don't think you know what you're talking about there.'

Mitchum chipped in at that point 'you've done nothing but tear our son down and you think that we're going to let you marry him. He had a future with the company and Rory you know that. It's all gone now and you didn't stop him from throwing his life away and leaving the company. If you'd told him not to leave he would have listened to you but you're still angry at my opinion of you from that internship so you didn't. You let my son piss his life away in Vegas and San Francisco, to what end. It wouldn't surprise me if you ended up pregnant within the year- I know you're struggling with getting a job' he smirked and Logan's head snapped up 'how would you know that Dad?' he stared at his father straight in the face. Rory looked at her future father-in-law 'yes, how would you know that? Unless you're keeping tabs on my applications even though I've only applied to one HPG paper, the Eagle Gazette. Oh my God, you're blocking my applications by using favors aren't you?' Mitchum just looked at her with a glint in his eye. She shook her head and looked at Logan 'Logan can we go now' He nodded 'we've told your parents, Honor walk us out, you really are a special level of evil you know that right. Karma will kick you on the butt one day and I for one am hopeful that I'm there for it. That goes for you too Shira. Gorgeous house, doesn't seem too different from when I was here two years ago, what do you do with your spare time?' with that comment she exited the room with Honor, informing her of the plans to go to Rich Man's Shoes and inviting her and Josh.

When they got to the car she found herself pinned against the car as Logan kissed her mirroring his position from earlier in the evening 'you are so hot when you do that' she just smirked. 'Let's go see people who are actually happy we're engaged and celebrate. And I'm not forgetting that you had the ring for three months. You owe me a story about that' he smirked 'I'll save it for the engagement party. With that, he got in the car and headed back to Yale where their friends were waiting to party the night away with them.


A/N One thing that never made sense in the original show was Francine Hayden's character- we literally see her once, she seems to be a doting grandma to Gigi but not to Rory at any point even when Lorelai and Christopher are married in season 7. What do you think of my characterization here?

Thanks for reading. I hope to update you soon!