AN: Two chapters, one day! This is a continuation of their first weekend as a "couple", and in the next chapter we will see another jump forward. Please read, review, enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter Eight - Rings and Other Things

"You didn't," Rory giggled as Logan walked her out to the patio with his hands on her hips, "this is so pretty," she leaned back against Logan as she looked at the space. He had somehow managed to cover the patio with sparkling lights and a romantic dinner setting, she saw an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne and a bottle of red wine on the table. "Where did you get all of this?"

"Some of it I made," Logan told her, they hadn't moved any closer to the table and he just held her, "some of it I ordered."

"Well it's perfect," Rory told him, "how did you manage this? Honestly, I was barely gone a few hours."

"I have friends in high places," Logan placed a wet kiss on her neck between the strap of her camisole and the base of her neck.

"Oh yeah?" Rory laughed, "come on, show me what we've got here, and I think there is still some inside?"

"Why don't we start with cheese."

"I like cheese," Rory grinned, the same way she had when he had broken them into the dining hall at Yale, of all of the over the top gestures he had made over the years, she was always the most impressed with the simplest of them.

"I know you like cheese," Logan led her over to the table and pulled out the chair for her, "how was Lane?"

"You already asked me that," Rory pointed out as Logan handed her a glass of wine.

"I know, but that was a passing question while we were doing other things. So how was your time with Lane? Is that a better question? Did it leave you feeling any more normal about all this shit? Refreshed?"

"It did," Rory nodded. "I'm weirdly calm after…it felt totally safe, and almost normal…but also decidedly not normal. It was nice to see the town though. Did I tell you they haven't had any cases?"

"Might be the checkpoints Taylor has on the way into town…"

"Well at least he's doing something," Rory laughed. "But Lane is good…she and Zach are…well… I don't know."

"What does that mean?" Logan asked as he took a sip of his wine. "I thought they were happy as ever?"

"I think they're just in a rut," Rory admitted. "He is all she knows, and she is such a dedicated mom, but…she doesn't really have much going on outside of him and the kids. So I don't know…she was telling me some stuff and maybe asking for a bit of advice…"

"Ok…you're being…vague?"

"She is unhappy in some…ways."

"Well is something wrong? Does he hit her? Like…you're kind of leaving a lot of up interpretation here, Ace."

"Hit her? Zach? No, never. Mrs Kim would be the end of him. But no, she just isn't satisfied sometimes…"

"Ohhhh," Logan nodded, not really sure why she couldn't have just said that in the first place. "And you…?"

Rory laughed, "I think made her more mad because of just how satisfied I am," she told him. "You've always been a generous lover," she smirked.

"Well, you make that easy," Logan told her. "So what…after all these years…do they just not…"

"Zach is more worried about getting his than Lane getting hers, so…"

"Rookie mistake," Logan laughed.

"Oh yes, as opposed to you…I would hate to actually know how many women are on that list."

"My days of sleeping around ended when we started dating exclusively. Since then it's been you, Odette, and a couple of other women…"

"I suppose I should be flattered?" Rory rolled her eyes.

"I think maybe we should steer this conversation back to how good I am in bed, less on who else I've been in bed with because I'm also pretty sure I don't want to imagine you with anyone else. And if we can do that," Logan smirked, "I'll do the thing you like again."

"The thing with your tongue?" Rory grinned.

Logan shook his head, "the thing with your leg and the tongue," he told her.

"You make it hard to want to make it through dinner," Rory blushed. "How are things at work?"

Logan shrugged, "in a lot of ways it's really good. We managed to up our subscriptions through all of this crap, digital of course…so things are looking good. Busy. We have to figure out what to do about all of our fucking employees with court dates, but legal has a handle on that. I would like to kill whoever is sending my dad more updates than he needs…"

"He's just bored," Rory shrugged. "That company…he sacrificed everything for it. You know that. His relationship with you and Honor, I mean…I don't imagine your dad ever being in love with anyone the way that a normal person is, he loves HPG first, but even his relationship with your mom…this can't be what she expected…"

"I think that their marriage is exactly what mom expected, she does what she wants, spends what she wants, I mean, sure she would have appreciated more discretion on his part over the years, but she knew what she signed up for," Logan admitted. "Which is why I always knew it wasn't what I wanted."

"You are nothing like your dad in all of the ways that matter," Rory smiled at him, "god this is so formal, we're eating cheese," she gestured to the board in front of her, "come on," she stood up and moved to another section of the patio which had a sectional set up, "sit," she demanded as Logan followed and sat closest to the armrest and put his feet up on the table, Rory sat beside him and leaned directly into his chest.

His arm went around her shoulder and he played with the strap of her shirt as he took a sip of wine. "You don't like my date?" he joked.

"I love your date, but I also just want to sit with you," she admitted. "We haven't done this…and I'm not saying it wasn't my own doing. I know that it was me who kept you at arms length…but I…I like this."

xxx

"Logan, stop," Rory giggled as Logan pulled her body close to his, they had woken up surprisingly well rested for how late they had been awake and although Rory wasn't sure how it was possible, Logan was always ready for more, "Nathan is going to be home soon, and I think it's best that we are dressed when we tell him."

"I mean, the kid is already going to cost us a fortune for an Ivy League school," Logan kissed her neck, "why not add therapy to the list?"

"I would rather agree to you buying him a new car when he turns sixteen than waste the money on therapy for catching his parents hooking up…" Rory laughed.

"Fair," Logan put one final kiss on her lips. "I could get used to waking up with you."

"I'm sure the novelty will wear off," Rory smirked, "especially once you see me without my makeup," she joked.

Logan laughed as he let go of Rory's hips and turned his attention to the mirror in front of him, trying to decide if he should bother shaving or not. He had joined Rory in the shower without an invitation and he knew she was right, Nathan would be back any minute, and while he was old enough to understand in theory that his parents being together would entail certain things, he didn't need to see them. "I'm going to go get dressed while you put on your face," he joked.

Rory rolled her eyes as she applied her day cream and some SPF before pulling her hair into a bun on the top of her head and following Logan to the closet, she hated how he looked effortlessly beautiful no matter what he wore. She watched as he pulled on a pair of jeans and a casual button down shirt. He hated that she called him beautiful, but Rory couldn't think of another word to describe him. "Is this face satisfactory?" she asked as she stood before him in her bra and panties.

"I thought we weren't going to do this again this morning?" Logan looked her up and down as she quickly grabbed a pair of denim shorts and a loose fitting light blue tank top and pulled them on. "Buzz kill."

"Later," Rory assured him as she looked through the drawers, stopping a moment later and looking at Logan, "is this…?" she asked as she picked up a large diamond ring and accompanying band that was absently tossed in the jewelry tray in one of Logan's drawers.

Logan swallowed the lump in his throat, "Odette…"

"You still have them?" Rory asked cautiously. She didn't exactly have a leg to stand on, she couldn't be mad, but she still felt a pang of…something as she held the ring in her hand.

"I mean…I have the one from you too," Logan took the rings from her, he wasn't sure if that would make this better or worse, "it's just…" he nodded to the place that she knew the safe was, "I'm sorry, I should have put that away."

"It's fine," Rory told him awkwardly, "it's your drawer…I was just looking for my watch…"

"You don't have to explain," Logan told her. "It's…this is ours. It's all ours. You can look through anything…"

Rory nodded, "look," she smiled after pulling open another drawer and finding the watch she was looking for, "you have stuff…I'm assuming there are other….things around from your marriage…"

"I'll find them and box them up," Logan sighed. There wasn't much. He took the rings and walked to the safe, opening it quickly he put them inside, "I'm sorry Ace…there is just some stuff I never really thought to move."

Rory gave him a smile, he didn't quite buy that she wasn't bothered, but he wasn't going to pick a fight either. "Nathan will be here any minute."

"We good?" Logan asked, Rory was now a few paces away, she turned to him and nodded. "I'll be right down." Logan waited until Rory was out of sight and he quickly scanned the drawers to make sure he didn't have anything else of Odette's. He didn't think he did. She had returned the rings when they separated and they had just sat there, she took all of her personal effects when she left, so anything that was left was simply things that didn't matter to her. He was sure if Rory went through storage rooms, or maybe some files in his office, she would find some remnants of their relationship, but nothing sentimental. He walked down the stairs a few minutes later and found his sister and son standing in the foyer talking to Rory. "Are we allowed to be this close?" Logan laughed as Honor practically lunged forward for a hug. "I've missed you," he held her close for a moment longer.

"I've missed you too. And this is annoying. Women everywhere have gained ten pounds from this pandemic and here you are looking fit as a fiddle, and Rory here…somehow still looks like she never gave birth," Honor pouted.

"I have the stretch marks to prove it," Rory countered with a smile. "Honor was just saying how much fun they had."

"You behave Nate?" Logan asked his son.

"Yup. Thanks Aunt Honor," Nathan smiled and then moved past his father to go up to his bedroom and unpack his bag.

"Man of few words."

"They all seem to have that in common when the adults are around," Honor sighed, "but they were all chatting away and it just seemed so normal to have them together. Dad called, he was…dad, so that got weird. Trying to suggest we can all go to Florida soon. I told him we wouldn't be until there is some vaccine credibility…it's not worth him risking his health."

"You know dad, he's never been one to follow the rules."

"You two look weird," Honor looked from her brother to Rory. "Everything alright?"

"Everything is fine," Logan looked back at Rory who shrugged.

"Sure," Honor nodded, making it clear that she didn't believe them. Honor had always held out some hope that things would work out between her brother and Rory, but she chose not to meddle, instead she had treated Rory like a sister in law for all this time and the two remained close. Talking a few times a week, texting regularly and during non Covid times, they would go shopping or out to lunch every few weeks when Honor was in the city. "I should go…but thank you for letting him come. I think it was good for the bunch of them," she referred to her own two children, Gabriel and Elizabeth, Ellie for short.

"Maybe in a few weeks they can come here?" Rory suggested cautiously. "Give you and Josh a break…"

"That would be nice," Honor smiled. "We'll see how things are in a few weeks?"

"Alright, say hi to the kids for me," Logan hugged Honor once more. "Stay safe. I love you."

"I love you too," Honor gave him a kiss on the cheek before turning to Rory. "If there is too much testosterone in here, we can always go for a walk…masks on."

"Thank you," Rory hugged her, "and thank you for this weekend." They said their goodbye's and Logan and Rory stood in the foyer. They had assumed that Nathan would stay downstairs, therefore making a simple transition into telling him about their newfound relationship status. "I guess one of us should go get him…"

"Nate," Logan shouted up the stairs, he received a muffled response, "come down here. Mom and I need to talk to you." It took a moment before Logan heard shuffling and the door opening. "Why don't you grab us some coffee?" he suggested to Rory.

"Not enough in the world," Rory laughed and turned towards the kitchen. As much as she was confident that Nathan would be happy with the revelation, it was still an awkward discussion to have. She remembered when her own parents had told her about their reunion, the baggage that came with it. Although her relationship with Logan had always been different than her parents relationship, even if she sometimes projected those insecurities on Logan. She went to the kitchen and made them each an espresso before returning to the living room where Logan was sitting on the couch and Nathan on the chair, she chose to sit on the couch beside Logan, not too close, but still beside him. "You had a good time?" she asked as she handed Logan the coffee.

"It was fun," Nathan nodded. "Uncle Josh said Papa is nuts."

"Well, there are plenty of people who would agree with that sentiment," Rory laughed. "It's hard…with everything going on right now, we all want to keep people safe. Your dad and Auntie Honor want Nana and Papa to be safe, I want my parents to be safe and sometimes they do things we don't understand…"

"Is Papa not following the rules?"

"He is following the rules," Logan assured his son, "don't worry about Papa. He might not be happy about following the rules, but he is."

"Does he still have security?"

Logan nodded his head, "other than Papa, did you have fun?"

"Am I in trouble for something?" Nathan finally clued into the somewhat strange situation, his parents sitting across from him in the living room.

Rory laughed, "no honey, you aren't in trouble. But dad and I wanted to talk to you about something. You know that…I've been living here for a few months now, and that has been really nice because it means that through all of this there has been normalcy. We don't have to worry about each other, I wasn't in Brooklyn, you had space…it's been really nice for all of us."

"Are you going back to Brooklyn?"

Rory shook her head and looked at Logan who gave her a reassuring smile. "No Nathan, your dad and I…" she paused and Logan delicately put his hand on her knee and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Your dad and I are going to be together now."

"Together…" Nathan repeated, "like…together together?"

"Your mom and I have known each other for a long time," Logan spoke next, "and we have always…" he paused, "there has always been a lot of very strong feelings. We've been good friends, and we've been parents…but the truth of the matter is that in some way or another, I think your mom and I have loved each other for most of our adult lives…"

Nathan nodded as he took in the information, "so you two would like…go out together or…"

Rory swallowed, this is where she had worried that maybe they had missed a step or two, but she also understood Logan and his take on it. They didn't need to get to know each other, they knew each other better than anyone. "We're going to keep living together, and while you were gone, I moved my stuff into the main bedroom, so I'll be sleeping in there now…"

"Together?" Rory nodded in response to her son, "so you two like…have sex and stuff?"

"Nate," Logan cringed inwardly, he knew immediately that nothing he could do with his tongue would help his sex life for the next few days after his son just talked about it. "Your mom and I are adults, and we love each other, and we want to be together. So that is really all that matters. It just means that for the first time in your life, your parents are going to be in a relationship with each other."

"What if you change your mind?"

"We won't change our mind," Rory assured him confidently, Logan squeezed her knee and she smiled. "I think that it will probably take some time for you to really understand all of this, and whatever questions you have, we are happy to answer…together, or if you just want to talk to dad, or me…anything you want. But dad and I took making this decision very seriously, and if we didn't think we could do it, then we wouldn't be talking about it right now."

"Why now?" Nathan asked quietly. He always appreciated that his parents had gotten along. He had plenty of friends with divorced parents who couldn't stand each other, but there was still a part of him that had always wondered why his parents couldn't be together if thy seemingly got along so well. "Why didn't you try harder when I was born?"

Logan took his hand of Rory's leg and cracked his knuckles, "you know…when your mom got pregnant, we were both young, and we have always cared about each other…but it wasn't the right time for us. So I know we both had other relationships, and those people loved you, Odette loved you, and Mark loved you…but…when you're older you will understand a bit more…your mom and I are lucky we found our way back to each other. I think the pandemic helped a bit with that. It forced us to come together, it forced the three of us to live a bit more like a family…"

"How do you feel about this?" Rory asked softly.

"Are you selling the apartment in Brooklyn?"

Rory looked at Logan who shrugged. "I mean…probably. I talked about it with Mark a while ago and we agreed he was going to stay there, probably until things have calmed down with the pandemic, and then we'll make a plan. Maybe I'll rent it, maybe Mark will buy it…but this is where we live now."

"What about school?"

"I think…I mean, we haven't spoken in detail about it, but I think moving you to Chilton would make more sense. That is where I went to school, your cousins go…"

"Does anyone else know about this?"

Rory nodded her head while Logan shook his, "Lane knows," Rory told him.

"Can I go play basketball?"

"Do you want to talk about this?" Rory asked.

Nathan shook his head and Logan nodded to the door, encouraging Nathan to go play. Rory wanted to follow him, but Logan put his hand back on her knee, "he needs to process," he told her. "Even if he is happy, even if this is what he has secretly wanted…it's still a shock to his system."

"I guess…"

"We can give him an hour and then one of us can go check on him. He's not used to this…it's foreign in a lot of ways, but it's also the same in some ways. We need to follow his lead."

"What if he doesn't want it…"

"He's going to be fine, Ace."

"I can't believe he asked about our sex life," Rory groaned. "When I was his age, I don't think I had any awareness of sex."

"You basically grew up in a snow globe, I don't imagine it was frequently talked about. I can assure you, a twelve year old having some awareness of sex is normal…I'm sure he wishes he wasn't asking those questions."

"At twelve? Normal…"

Logan laughed. For all that Rory had lived in Brooklyn and travelled, she really was still the somewhat naive girl from Stars Hollow who had remained a virgin much later than the average person, and was frankly the queen of monogamy. "He's a normal kid," Logan told her. "Don't worry, he will come around. I promise."

"Have you really not told anyone?" Rory thought back to how she had said she had told Lane, and Logan had told no one. "Not even the boys?"

"You think that Finn would be able to contain his excitement if I told him? He'd have hired a fucking skywriter."

Rory laughed. Logan was right. Finn had been rooting for them in some way or another for as long as they had been apart. She remembered him offering to get Logan so drunk at his bachelor party that he would be able to have questionable photos taken in order to end the engagement to Odette. Rory obviously hadn't taken him up on his offer and Logan had brushed it off as a joke, even if he knew that Finn would have been more than happy to follow through. "I guess…how do we even tell people? Do we wait for it to come out?"

"I guess, I mean there aren't many other ways to handle this…"

"It's so strange. If it wasn't for this stupid pandemic we probably wouldn't have found our way back, but then because of the pandemic we can't do all of the things that we normally would…"

"We normally would?" Logan smirked, he was going to make her admit she had thought about getting back together with him and how the would tell their friends.

"You know…"

"I don't know," Logan laughed.

"I just mean…if things were normal and we had gotten together, we could go for dinner with friends. We would have my parents over, and my grandma…we would go for dinner with Honor and Josh…"

"To…"

"You know why," Rory laughed.

"I know but I want you to say it. I want you to admit that you have thought more than once about how we would announce our relationship to the people we care about…"

Rory turned her head to him and leaned in for a kiss. She smiled against his lips as he put one palm on her cheek and the other went to her waist. "Logan," she whispered against his lips, "I admit it."

"Admit what?" Logan leaned his forehead against hers and placed a quick peck on her lips.

"Over the years…I may have considered the different ways we would have told people about a relationship if we were to get together again…"

"And telling Nate?"

"I have thought a million times about ways to tell him," she admitted softly.

Logan kissed her passionately for a moment before once again resting his head against hers, "and did it live up to your expectations?"

"I think I expected him to be a bit more excited," she admitted.

"Just wait," Logan promised her, "he's going to freak out when it finally hits him."