Chapter Started: December 20, 2019, at 3AM
Chapter Finished: December 25, 2019, at 4AM
Author's Note: Well, it's going on 8am here in good 'ol PA and I still haven't been to sleep yet because my PMS is causing my belly and headache to rage into serious threats of sickness. Urgh, I definitely need to get caught back up on my DePo shots so I don't have to deal with my PMS any more. Anyways, SURPRISE! Finally (and hopefully) a new chapter this amazing story that has had you all sticking close to me, knowing that I haven't updated since about 2015. I must admit, seeing each and every review, view, and such for this story has been epic – I love it! Fun Fact: on my Wattpad, I have 1.5K views for this story so far. Isn't that awesome?!
Author's Note 12.25.19 – Merry Christmas everyone, I hope it remains joyful, peaceful, full of good will, warm, and safe. Tis story turned out to be over 3,000 plus words long! Like whoa baby its a long one! Anyways, remember Dr. Seuss said it best "It came without ribbons, it came without tags, it came without packages, boxes or bags…Christmas…doesn't come from a store…Christmas perhaps means a little bit more." Merry Christmas.
=Highway Don't Care=
-Chapter 4-
"Stop it," she gently whispered, her eyes still closed, a soft smile on her pale pink lips.
"Stop, what?" he whispered back with a soft smile, a twinkle in his eyes as his hand brushed hair away from her face.
"I can feel you staring," came her soft reply, "stop it."
"Why?"
"Because it makes me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world," she replied sleepily and honestly.
"You are," he lovingly replied, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"Yeah, okay," she mumbled back, not believing him.
"Lorelai Leigh Gilmore, my beautiful sweet Ace," Logan told her, gently cupping her cheek and making her look at him, "you are the most beautiful woman in the world to me because I love you."
"I love you too, Logan," she replied with a soft smile before stretching as a yawn slipped out followed by a groan.
"Sleep, I'll wake you when coffee," he told her with a smile before slipping from the bed, grabbing the boxers on the floor and slipping them on his naked floor and heading towards the kitchen.
"You're a God-send," she told him as she rolled onto her side to curl back up into bed and burrowed into the blankets.
"So, they tell me," was his reply, letting a chuckle out as he glanced back and noticed his girlfriend had disappeared once again under the blankets.
Thirty minutes later and two coffee mugs poured, Logan re-entered the bedroom he shared with his girlfriend and stopped in the middle of the room. Laughing at how she was spread out like a starfish on the bed, he shook his head and sat the cups down on the nightstand. Find the location of her face, he smirked as he pulled the cover back and silently counted in his head as her nose started to twitch.
1…2…3…, he silently counted down in his head.
"Mm, coffee, gimmie gimmie," Rory demanded as she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
Amused, the blonde HPG heir handed her, her coffee up that had a white arrow with 'he's with me' on it, that matched his mug that had the same arrow, but it said 'she's with me' on it. Together they talked about nonsense until their coffee was gone and they had to get up and start the very busy day ahead of them.
(Hilton Hartford, Hartford, CT – 6PM)
As the day came and night began, Logan found himself in a very beautifully, Christmas themed reception area of the Hilton Hartford hotel at 6PM. Standing near the bar with his two best friends, Finn and Colin, and some other guys, he listened to the chatter from the group while continuing to check his silver Rolex.
"Man, I'm sure they are on their way," Colin told the blonde with a chuckle, watching him check his watch for what seemed like the twentieth time in the last ten minutes.
"Yeah…yeah, you're right," Logan agreed, nodding his head.
"What's got Huntz in such a conniption?" Derek asked for he had never seen the playboy check his watch so often as if he was worried about something…or someone.
"Waiting on his girl," Finn replied nonchalantly and watched as the faces of the guys, who they didn't see often, eyes go wide before they laughed.
"You mean his flavor of the week," Derek replied with a smirk.
"Nope, not our Reporter Girl," Finn corrected with a grin, taking a sip of his Black Cherry Coke and Whipped Cream, Whipped Vodka.
"Reporter Girl?" Derek questioned as his eyes scanned the ballroom before stopping at a sight in the doorway of the room. Letting out a slow whistle, his eyes scanned the group of girls up and down slowly.
"There they are," Colin pointed out to Logan, Finn, and Josh, who had just re-entered their circle of guys after talking to his parents.
"Dibs on the brunette," Derek quickly said.
"Fuck off," Logan hissed at him, his brown eyes going black as he turned to glare at the yacht-manufacturing-heir.
"Dude, I saw her first."
"Man, back off," Colin warned him as he and Finn narrowed their eyes as well.
"Hey, he can have anyone he wants," Derek pointed out, "I called dibs on that hottie, and dibs is dibs."
"And I call dibs on kicking your ass if you don't put your tongue back in your mouth and your eyes off my girl," Logan threatened.
"You have a girl?" Came a sweet voice followed by an equally sweet laugh, "who's the lucky girl, Huntzberger?"
The guys in the group now had all turned from Logan and Derek's pissing match to lay their eyes on the girl – the vision – in front of them, who was accompanied by two other females.
Before them stood two blondes with a little brunette standing between them. The first blonde was easily recognizable as Josh's wife, Honor. She was dressed in a beautiful BCBGMAXAZRIA white gown that had intricate lace framing the deep V-neckline, crossover detail at the hips, and no sleeves. Her hair was done in simple, big barrel curls. Her jewelry – a bracelet and long earrings - was kept simple in gold and diamond Tiffany and Co's Diamonds by the Yard collection, as was her makeup that was done in natural looks, except for the gold, glitter eyeshadow. Topping off her outfit, were nude fingernails and toenails that peeked out from her gold, star applique Giuseppe Zanotti heels, and finally, a white, silver, and gold clutch from Judith Leiber.
"You look beautiful, baby," Josh told his wife, handing her a glass of champagne and let her loop her arm around one of his.
"Why thank you, handsome," Honor replied with a giggle and blush. Man, even after months of marriage this man still makes me blush like a schoolgirl, she thought.
"You know, you never answered Lala's question," Stephanie pointed out to Logan. Her hair was done much like Honor's, and she was dressed in a beautiful, black all-over sequined Jenny Packham gown that had a plunging, wrap-effect bodice, and crystal-embellished cutout sleeves. The thigh-high slit showed off her beautiful, yet simple red high heels from Jimmy Choo. Her look was complete with a red, Prada clutch and a pearl earrings, necklace, and bracelet set from Tiffany's.
"Oh, he knows, I think he's too stunned though," Colin informed her with a smirk as he handed the blonde a glass of champagne, "you look beautiful, Steph."
"I know," the blonde, real-estate heir replied cheekily.
"Little brother, you alive in there?" Honor asked, giggling and waving her hand in front of her brother's face.
"Do I look okay?" The brunette asked with a coy smile as her boyfriend continued to stare at her. She was dressed in a beautiful red Oscar de la Renta dress that was strapless, had draped train that rested on the hip before flowing freely, and trimmed with light-catching crystals and metallic beads across the neckline. The thigh high slit showed off her long legs and the coil wrapped, silver Rene Caovilla high heels. Her hair was done in beautiful big barrel curls and draped over one shoulder showing off the Tiffany Jazz-drop earrings while a simple, pearl bracelet set on left wrist. Finally, her makeup was done naturally, except for the simple red lip and to make her outfit complete she carried a silver studded clutch.
"Breathtaking," Logan whispered as he approached her. Watching her blush, he smiled his 'Rory-smile' and gently wrapped his arms around her waist. Placing a kiss on her forehead causing her eyes to close, he continued on, "simply, amazingly, breathtaking. I'm proud to have you on my arm tonight."
"You don't look so bad yourself stud," Rory replied, straightening the slim black tie that went perfectly with his pressed white shirt and black Calvin Kline tux, and shiny black shoes.
"You ready?" He gently asked her, holding her hands in his as he backed away from her silently.
"To enter my first Hartford society event with you as my boyfriend?" She asked, "No, but you jump, I jump, right?"
"Right," he told her with a smile.
"Wait! Wait! Hold on! This is your girl?" Derek asked in shock, "Damn man, she's smoking."
"Hugs, lay the fuck off," Logan hissed at him, pulling his blushing girl tighter into his side and wrapping a protective arm around her as Finn and Colin stood behind them, prepared for whatever came next, "this is the last warning I'm giving you."
"Fine, fine," Derek grumbled. He thinks just because he richer than us, he can have anyone he wants because his dear old daddy told him Huntzbergers always get their way, he thought, glaring at the blonde heir that walked off with his date, Finn, Colin, Step, Josh and Honor to find their tables.
*!*!*
"Did you really have to be mean?" Rory gently asked him as they regarded the seating chart, trying to find their assigned table and hoping they were at the same table as their friends.
"I wasn't being mean," he informed her, glancing out the sides of his eyes at her, "I just informed him to stop eye-fucking you. If you want mean, I could have thrown a punch."
"No, no, fights will not be solved with fists, Mister," she gently scolded him, but let out a little laugh with the shake of her head before pointing at something at the chart, "there we are, beside Grandma and Grandpa's table. Oh shit!"
"Ace!" He said shocked at her swearing, laughing he asked, "What?"
"…" she mumbled and seeing his raised eyebrow and amused smirk, she sighed and confessed, "I kinda, maybe, avoided, forgot to tell my grandparents we got back together."
"How is that even possible?" He quizzed, "especially since you've had Friday night dinners since then, and with all your moms…input."
"Nice," she said, smirking at his careful wording about his mom, "because mom avoids all topics you, and she knows that Grandma and Grandpa would be thrilled. She doesn't like it when Grandma goes on about our perfect children with your blonde hair and my blue eyes."
"Well, this is going to be interesting," Honor inputted with a full belly laugh as she overheard their conversation.
"Interesting, interesting," Rory said, testing out the word, "I do believe that would be the right word."
"Well, something always happens at the Hartford American Heart Association Christmas Ball," Colin said with a laugh, "looks like this year it's going to be your relationship. That the unattainable, playboy Logan Huntzberger heir got tamed by the sweet, Gilmore heiress."
"At least this year, it won't be because Finn decided to pull his pants down and to show off his Superman boxers," Logan said between laughter.
"You did what now?" Rory asked, turning to the tall Australian, who was standing in front of them, wide eyed in shock and amusement.
"Four words: Russian Vodka, Crown Royal," he replied with a shrug.
"Mixed together? Or just in general?" She quizzed him.
"In general," he shrugged, "I started off with Crown Royal and doing Sour Apples, but then somehow, I got ahold of Bacardi 151, and the rest is history. Don't really know how I got ahold of the 151, or what happened afterwards."
"Dude, you got on all fours and crawled around the bar and behind the bartender while he was busy, and stole the bottle," Logan reminded him and those that were there for it – Stephanie, Colin – laughed at the remembrance of it. In fact, I think there was video made, he thought with a smirk, making a mental note to look for and ask Stephanie and Colin about it later.
"But why did you want to show your…" Rory started and with a shake of her head, she said, "Nope, nada, never mind I don't want to know."
"No, you really probably don't," Stephanie told her as the line finally started to move forwards. Smiling at Colin, she handed him her invitation to give over with his, watching as Rory did so to Logan with a smile as Josh and Honor could be heard laughing quietly behind them. These are my friends, and I love these guys to the moon and back, she thought with a soft smile.
"Let's just say, that I invited a redhead last year, she made a comment about only liking 'Superman', and the rest is as you can imagine," Honor spoke up, hearing the ongoing conversation out of one ear while Josh talked to a friend on theirs behind them.
"Oh Lord," the Gilmore-Hayden heiress said before shock took over as she took in the sight of the ballroom before her. The gorgeous ballroom was like a Christmas Wonderland, decked out in greens, reds, golds and silvers with fairy lights strung everywhere and a large floor to ceiling Christmas tree in the middle of the room's dance floor, "whoa baby!"
"It sure is something isn't it?" Honor said with a smile as Logan led their whole group – grateful and happily assigned together—to their assignment table number, 25, "it is prettier than last year, I'll give them that."
"Pretty? It's gorgeous."
"Ehhh, you get used to it," Finn commented as they came upon their table.
"I don't think I ever will," Rory replied honestly. Sure, I like the money because it lets me know that if I ever struggle, I have something to hold me up until things get better, and I admittedly do like some of the perks that come with it, but it's still hard to get used to, she thought as she smiled at her boyfriend in thanks as he pulled her chair out for her. Noticing two people out of the corner of her eyes, she breathed deeply with her eyes closed before opening them and putting a smile on as she greeted them, "Hello Grandma, hello Grandpa."
"Rory, darling, I didn't know you were going to be here," Emily stated, hugging her granddaughter happily while silently thanking whoever for persuading Rory to attend events such as these.
"Richard," Logan greeted, shaking the older gentleman's hand before he switched grandparents with Rory, "Hello, Emily. You look beautiful."
"Oh, Logan, still a charmer," the older Gilmore girl replied with a smile, giving him a quick hug. Pulling back, she innocently asked, "are you guys here together?"
"Ace?" Logan asked his girlfriend amused.
"Yes, Grandma we are here together…together," she informed her grandparents. Wait for it, 1…2…3…she thought
"Oh that's wonderful my dears," Emily gushed, "you two make such a beautiful couple. You balance each other out so perfectly, and—"
"Emily, my dear, while I am just as happy, I still remember to breathe, so breathe," Richard said with a chuckle, winking at his giggling granddaughter.
"I take it your parents don't know?" Emily scolded Logan, "because they were talking about…"
"Oh Lord," he mumbled. Scratching the back of his head, he let out a sigh and said, "oh they do, or at least dad does, but it's Mitchum and Shira, what can you expect?"
After chatting with Emily and Richard some more, the older couple parted ways to sit back at their table while the young adults settled back at their table, all happily chatting and joking as they waited for the festivities to begin. Sometime later, found each couple – even Finn, who had found a nice and willing redhead – twirling around on the dance floor and around the Christmas tree, enjoying their night with surprisingly no scene from the Huntzbergers.
"Hey Logan?" Rory asked him quietly from where she had her head resting on his chest over his heartbeat as they waltzed to the Christmas Waltz.
"Yeah, baby?" He replied, his check never moving from the top of her head where it rested.
"I love you." Her sweet voice chimed.
Logan….I love you….Logan….Logan…Logan
Honor's sweet voice, softly broke through her little brother's sleepy haze. Brushing his forehead with her fingers, she smiled and watched as he sleepily opened his eyes, "Hey there, Little Brother."
"Hon…wha-" he started before sitting up as if jolted by lightening, "Rory!"
"She's fine, she's right there," Honor said, nodding her head in the direction of the said girl and reason they were here, "I just wanted to see if I could convince you to go home, sleep, change, eat something, and then come back."
"Hon…"
"She'll be fine, Little Brother, Josh and Patrick will be in later to check on her," she informed him, handing him a to-go cup and the last of the Starbucks goodies, "you drink that and then eat that; you have to keep your energy up, especially if I can't convince you to go home."
"Hon.."
"I know, Logan, if the roles were reversed and Josh was in that bed, or I was, I believe we would also not leave each other for fear of something going wrong.
The youngest Huntzberger looked at the food and drink - a blonde caramel brulee latte, a pumpkin cream cheese muffin, and a slice of banana nut bread – he was given for the longest while. Slowly, he started to nibble on the baked goods and sip on the steamy beverage as his sister pulled a chair closer to him on the side of Rory's bed. His hand never leaving hers, the young man gently ran his thumb over the back of her hand and then across her pulse point.
"I know it's a dumb question, but I am blonde," she stated with a slight laugh, "but how are you?"
"I'm…" he started, really rolling his emotions around in his head and heart, "dealing—scared shitless and feeling hopeless—but dealing."
"Well you know Josh and I are here for whatever you need, and for however long you need us," the older sibling reminded him with a of smile.
"I've never been so scared in my life," his soft, shaky voice came, "not even with Costa Rica. All I could think about on the plane on the way here was 'what if she dies?'. I couldn't even remember the last time I told her 'I love you'…what if she had dies without hearing me say it, Hon? What if…"
"Logan, stop. Don't go there," gently scolding him, Honor continued, "you can't play the what if game, you know where it leads."
"She died, Honor," he told her, his head turning towards his sister with wide, scared, brown eyes that she hadn't seen since they lost their grandma.
"Yeah but Josh said-"
"No not then…" he gently revealed, "last night, after you guys left…probably around midnight. We lost her for three minutes."
Shit, six minutes! Since that damned accident, she had been dead for six freaking minutes, Honor thought horrified as she quickly glanced at Troy, making sure she was still there and breathing with the help of a ventilator.
"They inserted it last night, something about not getting enough oxygen which is why she…" the man gently informed the woman with a shaky breath when he saw her looking at the new piece of medical equipment in her room.
"Does.."
"Yeah, that's why Colin said they started tossing around last names. Hell, I guess apparently on top of throwing out Hayden, Gilmore and Huntzberger, Stephanie marched up to the doctors and nurses and threw out the names Vanderbilt, Morgan, and McCrea. It must have worked since the visitor hours haven't applied to everyone, and why I'm assuming from the nurse who told me, they are all shacked up in the private waiting room."
"Yeah, it was definitely a sight of bewilderment," she admitted with the classic, Huntzberger smirk, "Josh said if only dad's business buddies, and the Elites of our world could see them all now. And I agree, I think we should have taken a photo when we had the chance…can anyone say blackmail? M&D would be so mad."
She smiled widely, flashing straight white teeth as she got the desired effect she wanted – like Josh had wanted with her this morning – a deep, full-belly laugh from the person sitting next to her. It was good to hear it, she always had missed that sound, and loved that she heard more now –happily and not sarcastically—since he had gotten together with the young, spunky, 'take-no-shit', brunette-haired, blue-eyed, coffee loving beauty laying in the large hospital bed – the sounds of beeping, squiggly lines, and rising and falling abdomen showing the only sign of life in her.
Well, there you guys go. Now, I don't know if this will be altered from the original version I just did, or how many rough drafts I will do from now until Christmas – which means, yes, this is your Christmas present and a way to say 'I'm (hopefully) back to stay for a little while', if you'll have me?! I'm sorry it's so short, I didn't mean too but maybe it's a good thing, for me – a sense of relief of finally being able to write a chapter for this story – and for you, allowing you to get back to the holiday activities with friends and family.
Thanks.
Merry Christmas.
Happy 2020!
All my love.
~ Jess
The highway won't hold you tonight
The highway don't know you're alive
The highway don't care if you're all alone
But I do, I do
The highway won't dry your tears
The highway don't need you here
The highway don't care if you're coming home
But I do, I do
Edited/1st Rough Draft On: December 20, 2019.
Edited/2nd & Final Draft: December 25, 2019, at 4AM.
