AN: I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to respond to reviews, it has been a crazy day and I just wanted to focus on a bit of writing when I had the chance, but seriously, so appreciated. To those of you wishing me luck with my kids, THANK YOU, I am trying to keep them off the sugar as much as I can. In exciting news, lockdown hasn't closed daycares this time so my youngest will be at daycare and my oldest will be home with me for an extra week and then hopefully back to school (yay!). We're fortunate that transmission hasn't been occurring in our schools and the kids are wearing masks etc so she can go safely. I hope everyone is keeping safe and for those of you that celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas, happy holidays to everyone else. This has been a year but we are surviving, hopefully 2021 is an upswing (open the borders so I can go back to Disney when it's safe!) Anyway, here we go...

Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls or The Holidate

Part Fourteen - October 8, 2021

"Logan, this does not look like just picking something up," Rory looked at him with a grin on her face, "what is going on?"

"What ever do you mean, Ace?" Logan winked, "go upstairs, there is an outfit in my room and I will be right up."

"But what…tell me what is happening?" Rory looked at the main floor as she walked up the staircase. The walls were draped in white fabric, there was dim lighting everywhere, she noticed a handful of waitstaff standing in black vests and white shirts and Rory was certain she could hear the sound of a piano being played although she couldn't see it.

"We're celebrating your birthday," Logan put his hand on the small of her back as they walked up the stairs, "and I have a question for you…"

"Right about now I think I would say yes to just about anything," Rory pulled Logan in for a kiss as they made it to his bedroom. "How long do we have?" she asked as she unbuttoned her shirt and let it hang open on her slim frame.

Logan grinned and kept her body pressed against him, "not that long," he told her.

"But long enough?"

Logan laughed, "why don't you get dressed and I promise I will pull you into a bathroom later and we can continue this?"

Rory pouted for a moment, "a bathroom? You're not giving anything away tonight, are you?"

"Nope."

"What was your question?"

"Well," Logan watched as she walked towards his closet where her dress for the evening was hanging. He saw her face light up as she ran her finger along the black lace folded collar dress. It was Monique Lhullier and arguably one of the shortest outfits he would've seen her wear, but he knew it would look great on her.

"Oh my god," Rory interrupted him before he could continue, "this is…"

"Do you like it?"

Rory nodded her head, "this is stunning."

"You're stunning," Logan countered.

"What are we doing tonight?" Rory asked him as she slid her jeans off, she noticed immediately that Logan, never one to miss a detail had purchased her a black La Perla matching set of bra and panties as well as a new pair of Manolo Blahnik mules embellished with crystal and a closed toe. "If you tell me maybe I'll show you the outfit minus the dress later on."

Logan swallowed and tried to keep the thought from his mind, if he thought about it too much they wouldn't leave the bedroom tonight. "Move in with me," Logan countered softly, his hands were dug into his pockets and he rocked back and forth on his heels as Rory dropped the fabric of the sleeve of the dress and gave him a soft smile.

"Logan," she paused and walked towards him, "is that really what you want?"

"I can give you two answers to that question. The practical one or the other one."

"Go with the other one first," Rory told him. She knew Logan the businessman, she knew Logan the practical person who made decisions based on a cost benefit analysis, but she also knew a man who loved fiercely and deeply. A man who once you were in, you were in with so long as you didn't betray him.

"I love you," he told her simply, he smiled when her lips began to curl upwards at his declaration. "I like waking up with you in my arms, I like having you to come back to at the end of the night, I like you wearing my clothes and borrowing my reading glasses. I hate one of us having to wake up an hour early to make sure we get to work on time the days we spend the night. Look, I would've considered moving into your place, and if you really want to, I will. I will move there, but I figured there is room here for us both to work when we need to, we can entertain, I already have two parking spaces…"

"Not the practical, Logan," Rory warned him as a smile spread across her face.

"I know we said we don't know if marriage is in the cards for us Ace, but I just want to wake up beside you every morning and go to sleep with you at night. I want to just know you will be here, I want to set the coffee pot to brew enough for both of us every day, and I want to kiss you every morning before we leave for work. Move in with me."

"So I guess you'll get to see the outfit without the dress tonight, won't you?" Rory kissed him once more, leaving her forehead pressed against his when they had separated for air.

"That would be a perk," Logan gave her a quick peck, "so that was a yes?"

"That was a yes," Rory agreed.

"Good otherwise this would've all been very embarrassing," Logan laughed, "come on, let's get dressed and we can move on with our evening."

"Care to let me in on those details?" Rory attempted once more.

"Nope, just get dressed," Logan walked into the closet and pulled out a black suit. Jess had never worn suits, she was sure of that, Dean had rented one for the situations where they were necessary, and the guys she had dated while she was at Harvard probably had some but it was never something they had worn in her presence. Logan on the other hand owned a variety of tuxedo's, more suits than she could count and wore them all on a somewhat regular basis. She watched him for a moment as he pulled out what he would need to wear for the evening and let her mind wander regarding what their night would hold. Logan was spontaneous, even when they hadn't been dating, she knew that. It wasn't unheard of for him to decide to up and leave for a weekend in the Bahamas, or on a whim decide that he needed to get himself a table at the hottest restaurant in town, it was one of the many things Rory had grown to love about him. "Like what you see?" Logan asked when he noticed her staring at him.

"I love you too," Rory told him honestly. He had said it a few minutes earlier, when he was asking her to move in with him, "I love you and I don't know what our future holds but…I want a life with you. I want to have memories with you and a future with you…I want to share my big wins and my losses with you…"

"Thank you," Logan smiled as she began to change her clothes and he pulled on his tux, she gave him a confused look, "for coming to Thanksgiving last year and for not falling all over me…we certainly wouldn't be here if you had."

"Well, you should consider yourself lucky I ever looked at you," Rory winked.

"Zip?" Logan asked as Rory slipped her feet in the shoes and turned her back to him, pulling her hair out of the way for him to zip her up, "you look amazing."

"Thank you," Rory blushed, "I'm going to fix my hair and makeup, give me five?"

Logan nodded, she was the only woman he had ever known who could say give me five and actually mean it. Five minutes in the world of his sister or his mother, or even his ex-girlfriend had meant a minimum of forty five minutes, but with Rory, it did in fact mean five minutes and she would come out looking like she could walk a runway. Logan had always been blown away by how effortlessly beautiful Rory was, and that was part of why he enjoyed buying her lavish gifts. He knew that she could look good on a couture ballgown, and stunning in a pair of Old Navy jeans and a t-shirt from The Gap. He fixed his black tie and put on his cufflinks before he returned back to the bedroom and smiled as Rory came out a moment later, "ready?"

"Don't know what I'm ready for."

"That is half the fun, come on," he took her hand and led her back to the stairs they had just climbed up fifteen minutes earlier, "happy birthday, Ace."

Rory felt her eyes fill with tears as she now saw a room full of her loved ones. Her parents and grandparents, her best friend from childhood, Lane and her husband Zach, Paris and her husband, Doyle, Nick and Abigail as well as an assortment of other friends and colleagues. A very pregnant Honor was there with Josh, she could see Mitchum and Shira chatting with her grandparents, Colin, Finn, Stephanie, Juliet, Robert and Rosemary were all in attendance, "Logan," she wrapped her arms around him and held him tight, "this is the best surprise."

"Well I wanted to throw you a party."

"This sure is a party," Rory laughed as they got to the bottom of the stairs, "how many people were in on the lie? Michel asked me if I was going to be home this weekend!"

"You know Michel," Lorelai stepped forward and hugged her daughter, "he will do anything for a botox gift card."

"You bought him? You blackmailed a dear family friend, a devoted Dragonfly Inn employee?" Rory laughed.

"Desperate times," Logan smiled, he loved seeing Rory so happy and in her element. She made the rounds to say hello to everyone and Logan got himself a drink, smiling as Rory popped up at his side with a champagne flute in hand, "happy?"

"A Birkin, a roommate, a party…this dress…" Rory kissed him, "this is the best birthday. My mom has made at least two comments to my dad about how short my dress is and how lucky you are getting tonight, so maybe avoid my dad for a bit, but everyone is having a great time."

"A roommate?"

"Well what do you call it when two adults move in together? A cohabitation agreement? Domestic partnership? Should I be referring to you as my partner? My boyfriend? My bed buddy…"

"Bed buddy for sure," Logan took a sip of his scotch, "especially at industry events, 'have you met Logan Huntzberger? my bed buddy…'"

Rory laughed, "you know what I mean."

"I'm your boyfriend, I'm your partner, call me whatever you want, it doesn't change what we are to each other."

"I love you," Rory told him, loving the way that sounded coming off her lips.

"I love you too," Logan kissed her forehead as Emily and Richard approached the couple, "Emily, Richard, we're so glad you could make it."

"This is quite the event," Emily smiled as Logan kissed her cheek, "I would have happily hosted something in Hartford."

"I know, but I just thought a night in the city before the weather gets bad would be fun, and that way Rory isn't crashing in a pool house or on a twin sized bed…"

"Yes, that's right," Richard nodded, "very practical indeed. She can take a taxi or what are those things called? Oh yes… an Uber home?"

"Actually" Rory leaned in and looked up at Logan with a smile, "as of tonight, I guess this is my home too."

"You're moving in?" Emily looked at them, "here?"

"Well it makes more sense," Rory told them, "this place is bigger, and I guess we can rent out the place dad owns, or he can sell it?" Rory looked at Logan who nodded his head, "we just…we want to be together."

"Well I suppose after a year it makes sense, and I guess you kids nowadays don't wait for an engagement or marriage to move in together, well, this is lovely. Just think Richard," Emily smiled, "if we need to stay in the city, we can stay with Rory and Logan!"

"Grandma you've never wanted to stay in the city at the place I have…" Rory laughed, ignoring the comment about marriage and engagements.

"Well I know dear, but we've always had the option, and now the option is to stay here, with you and Logan."

"You're welcome whenever you'd like," Logan assured her.

"And you have the proper insurance?" Richard asked, his chest puffing ever so slightly as he did. "You'll need a cohabitation agreement to ensure that Rory's interests are protected. Rory we'll have the lawyer start working on it next week. Will you store your furniture? Or rent it out with the old place? Sell it? Make sure all of your appraisals are up to date."

"I'm sure it's fine with my insurance, and I think," he paused and looked at Rory who looked like a deer in the headlights, none of this had been discussed when she had moved in with Jess, but maybe that was because she hadn't moved in with Jess, but in fact, Jess had moved in with her. "Rory and I will discuss the rest, and we'll work it out with our lawyers together, right Ace?"

"Absolutely," Rory nodded.

"And who knows, maybe we'll end up in a brownstone somewhere, might not be here forever."

"I don't know," Rory interrupted, "I love the views, I love the location…"

"I'm just saying Ace, we might decide we want to move somewhere else. But you are right Richard, we have to make sure everyone is protected legally, so we will definitely have lawyers set something up."

"You're a smart boy," Richard smiled appreciatively, "it's nice to see our granddaughter being treated as she deserves."

"I can't say I disagree with that sentiment," Rory laughed as Logan gave her side a little squeeze. "Grandma, grandpa, I haven't gotten a chance to chat with Honor yet, and I doubt she will be staying too long, so I'm going to go say hi, but I'll catch up with you later, and once I'm all moved in, we can make a plan for you to come here for dinner and I will give you a tour?"

"That sounds marvellous," Emily shrugged her shoulders as Logan and Rory made their way over to a very pregnant Honor.

"Oh my goodness, Honor, you look…" Rory grinned.

"Like a beached whale?" Honor finished for her, "this is my last social event until le bebe comes," she continued, "only my brother could get me to agree to this little soiree at this point in my pregnancy."

"Well I for one am thrilled you are here, and you look beautiful, this dress is amazing" Rory grinned as she looked at Honor wearing a loose fitting black dress, although she looked pregnant, she certainly didn't look like a woman about to give birth to her fourth child, "Logan said you were talking about an induction?"

Honor nodded as Josh and Logan began discussing business, "well Jude was enormous and so was Catherine, so to be safe they'll give me some extra ultrasounds, and we'll go from there, but the doctor doesn't want this little person to get as big as they did. Ella was the perfect size by comparison. Plus I really like my OB, so if everything lines up, I would like them to be with me to deliver…we'll see"

"I can imagine a big baby is not ideal?" Rory made a face.

"Definitely can leave you with some damage," Honor laughed, "but with any luck I will be back up and running by Thanksgiving thanks to a team of nannies, and a night nurse."

"Of course," Rory laughed, remembering when Paris had explained all of these things to her years earlier, "are the kids excited?"

"Jude and Ella are, Catherine is not impressed, she declared that she would like a pony when the baby comes. I'm sure my mother will happily oblige her every whim. As you know, we don't know what we're having. Cat doesn't want another sister, and Jude and Ella are both dying for another girl. I think Jude likes the idea of being the only boy, and Ella-bean just likes the idea of a little baby to play doll with."

"Well of course, she has no idea of the realities of human life," Rory laughed.

"Oh but she thinks she does, she thinks she knows everything."

Rory smiled and sipped her champagne, "did Logan tell you the news?"

"What news?" Honor cocked her head to the left as she sipped her sparkling water. "He did tell me about the Birkin, is there more than the Birkin? And that dress which looks amazing might I add."

"Your brother has good taste," Rory blushed, "but Logan asked me to move in."

"Really?" Honor squealed, "and you said yes? Oh please tell me you said yes!"

"I said yes," Rory nodded as Honor pulled her in for a hug, not getting too close because of the nine month pregnant belly between them.

"Oh I'm so happy for you," Honor exhaled. She was one of few people in the know about their relationship, Rory knew it was fast to move in, a month of dating, but something about it felt right. They had spent the better part of eight months getting to know each other, they did know each other, and they weren't kids, they were adults who wanted to spend as much time together as they could.

"Thank you," Rory was relieved, "so tell me, is there anything we can do once this baby gets here? Can Logan take Jude to a hockey game? Or I can take the girls for something? Or we can take them all to a hockey game? For a sleepover?"

"You really are too kind," Honor told her, "I think Jude and Catherine would love that, Ella might not be ready for a full weekend of Uncle Logan."

"It can be a lot."

"You might need to reconsider the move," Honor joked.

"Bite your tongue," Logan jumped in, as if to prove he had been listening all along, "you maybe pregnant with my niece or nephew but I will throw you outta here if you talk like that."

"Look baby brother, if you mess this up, I pick Rory!"

"Well I pick Josh if you mess it up, sound fair?"

"Enough," Rory laughed and wrapped her arms around Logan, "no one is screwing anything up, got that?"

"Yes ma'am," Logan agreed, "mind if I steal you?"

"More presents?"

"No," Logan laughed, "you're just with me for the money? The truth has finally come out."

"You caught me," Rory laughed as they said goodbye to Honor and Josh, "I think I might need a break from these shoes though."

"I like the shoes, you promised later…"

"Well clear the room and I'll drop the dress right now," Rory whispered seductively.

AN 2: I really wanted to make it clear, these are two people who love each other. I do not believe marriage is in the cards for this story, however they are two committed individuals who are making a choice to love each other and be together.