Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls or The Holidate

AN: Oh man, where do I begin? I'll start with I'm sorry. I have started and stopped this chapter more times than I can count. The truth is my kids have been home with me since mid December so I've been a teacher and a mom and working full-time, and burnt out. That is the jyst of it. i'm sorry. So here is the final instalment. i kind of put a bow on it, i tried to stay true to the vision that I have always had for their relationship. I will be writing Later next so I'm hoping that I am now back and I will get to the DM's I missed. I suffer from generalized anxiety and so reading the DM's is hard for me when i'm in a rut because I feel like I am letting my readers down and it's a bit of a spiral for me. So again, my apologies and I love you all

Part Eighteen - December 31, 2021

"What the hell is that noise?" Logan shouted as he walked into the kitchen to find Rory waving a towel towards the smoke detector, black smoke billowing from the open oven door and the smoke alarm blaring and strobing all at once. "Are you alright?" he asked as he took the towel from her and a moment later the noise stopped.

As Logan was fanning the air, Rory turned on the range hood to get the air moving and burst into laughter as she closed the door to the wall oven, "I was," she laughed, "I was trying to make cookies!"

Logan tossed the towel on the counter and surveyed the mess. A tray with what looked to be the remains of burnt cookies was on the stovetop and an assortment of ingredients were all over the counter, "trying must be the operative word there?"

Rory crossed her arms over her chest and pouted, "I thought the kids would like it."

"Well they'll definitely like it when we don't feed them burnt hockey pucks," Logan pulled Rory in for a kiss, "you good? No burns? No baking injuries sustained?" he asked as he inspected her arms and hands lovingly.

"I just set the wrong time on the timer," Rory explained, "I am more than capable of making cookies."

"I know, I've seen you in the kitchen, you're a whiz, remember…" Logan smiled at her, "something about cutting vegetables and making me the grill master?"

"I can do more than cut vegetables," Rory smiled and put her head on his chest. "I guess I should make some calls and see if any bakeries still have anything…"

Logan shook his head, "nope," he told her.

"Nope?" Rory repeated.

"We'll make cupcakes," he told her, "they love doing stuff like that. Baking, decorating…it'll take up a couple hours too."

"Do we even have the stuff to make cupcakes?" Rory countered, thinking if she had ever seen it in the cupboard.

"What kind of red blooded American would I be if I didn't have a box or two of Betty Crocker tucked away somewhere?" Logan laughed. "Can you grab some butter from the fridge to soften?"

Rory smiled, the panic dissipating over whether or not they would have things to do with the kids who would be arriving in two hours. "How was work?" she asked, Logan had been called in for some meetings at the last minute.

"Stupid," Logan shrugged, "I'm glad to be home."

"Could you be more vague?" Rory laughed. It was something she had learned since moving in with Logan, he wasn't big about talking about his day, certainly not the specifics. When Rory got home from work, she wanted to discuss the people she had interviewed, the research she had done, and Logan was happy to talk about it, but when it came to discussing his own day to day, he found it far too monotonous. Every few days he would tell her about a big deal or something someone had said in a meeting, but Logan didn't have much interest in coming home and regurgitating the details of his day.

"Dad wanted to discuss the future."

"Today?"

"Well, when inspiration hits…" Logan rolled his eyes.

"What does he want?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Logan told her firmly, "I want to enjoy a night with my girlfriend and my nieces and nephew and we can talk about it when things are more solid and decided." Logan exhaled and ran a hand through his hair, he smiled as Rory put her hands on his cheeks and kissed him softly, an attempt to reassure him that she was still there, still in no matter what else was going on. Mitchum had wanted to discuss the future. He had wanted to discuss Logan taking over the company. He had wanted to discuss expediting his own retirement and relaxing - whatever the hell that meant, Logan was certain he had never seen his father truly relaxed. It wasn't lost on Logan that taking over the company, something that had always been looming, something he had prepared for his entire life, it would change everything. He would be under more scrutiny. In some ways he would answer to no one, but in other ways he would answer to everyone. Logan had imagined taking over the company when Mitchum died, not taking over the company and still having his father peaking over his shoulder at what was happening. Mitchum had ruled with an iron fist. He was good, there was no denying that Mitchum Huntzberger was meant for publishing, he was a newspaper man, but what about all the things he wasn't that Logan was? Mitchum had never particularly cared about his family for more than appearances. He had provided for them, and in his mind, that was enough. Logan on the other hand loved fiercely, he was protective, he didn't want to see the people around him get hurt. And that…that was where the conversation with his father had set him off. I can't protect her if she's not one of us, Logan. You have to understand that. You don't just date men like us. There are things that are expected… Logan shook his head. The expectations. He was so sick of hearing about the expectations that people had for him. The only people he had ever met who had no expectations of him were Rory, Colin, Finn, Robert, Stephanie and Juliet…and his sister. But he supposed that Honor and her lack of expectations was intrinsically tied to all of the expectations that already weighed down on him from inside the walls of their childhood home. "We should get away sometime in February," he told her with a smile, trying to reassure her that whatever had been discussed wasn't worth worrying about.

"Oh?" Rory smiled at the suggestion.

"Fiji, Bora Bora, Hawaii, somewhere warm that we can bring bathing suits and nothing else."

"Sounds perfect, just let me know some dates and I will ask the boss."

Logan laughed, "I'm sure the boss will be fine with this. At the very least, your boss's boss's boss is fine with it."

"Well in that case," Rory laughed. "I need to clean this," she gestured to the mess in the kitchen. "Can you order the pizza for dinner to be here around six and make sure the bedrooms are ready for the kids?"

"Ready?"

"Beds made, fresh towels…"

"That is what the housekeeper does…."

"Please just humour me and double check?" Rory pouted, "or would your rather clean up the hockey puck cookies?"

"Good point," Logan laughed.

"You've gotta work on your self preservation skills Huntzberger."

xxx

"Jude…." Rory looked at the boy and smiled, "no more cupcakes!"

"Uncle Logan said we could be crazy tonight," Jude countered as he eyed the plate of cupcakes that they had finished decorating half an hour earlier. Logan had been right, of course. The kids loved baking and decorating the treat with a movie on in the background and pizza boxes splayed out across the kitchen island.

"Yes, but Uncle Logan," Rory glared pointedly at Logan who shrugged his shoulders, "was just kidding. Right Uncle Logan?"

"Yes, I was kidding. You can have one tomorrow morning though, right before your dad comes to get you."

Rory laughed and shook her head, she saw how Jude seemed alright with the suggestion as he moved on to a slice of pizza on his plate. "So, how late are you thinking you guys will stay up?" Rory asked them. Jude and Ella would be fine to stay up late, Catherine probably would struggle to stay up but still try.

"We stay up until midnight," Ella told her proudly.

"Well why don't we turn on a new movie?" Rory suggested.

"You pick!" Catherine smiled at Rory.

"Don't let her pick," Logan groaned, all three kids shot him a glare, "you guys will regret it!"

"You will not," Rory gave Logan a sly smile, "here's the deal. Everyone go to the bathroom, wash your hands from dinner, and then we will turn on the last movie, and despite what someone is telling you, I will pick a good movie, and it will not be what he thinks it is."

"What do you think it is?" Ella asked Logan.

"Wonka," Logan stated simply, holding eye contact with Rory as both of their smiles grew.

"It is not Wonka," Rory stated smugly.

Ella looked between the two adults and then down at her sister, "you guys are weird. Come on Cat, I'll help you."

Rory and Logan both chuckled as all three kids walked up the stairs, leaving the two adults alone for the first time since they had arrived nearly five hours earlier. "This is nice," Rory smiled at him, "a far cry from last year."

Logan nodded his head and gave Rory a closed lip smile, he paused for a moment and licked his lips, "it is, isn't it? No club, no short dresses, no tequila shots."

"No engagements," Rory laughed, "no people watching, no hangover."

"No worrying about whether or not you got home alright…"

"Well that is because you just need to make sure I can stumble up to our bedroom now," Rory put her arms loosely around his neck, "I love you."

"I love you too," Logan kissed her gently, his hands on her hips as he pulled her body flush to his own. "How long do we have?" Logan pulled away slowly.

"A couple minutes," Rory laughed as his lips brushed against hers once more. Maybe it was the one part of this whole babysitting thing they hadn't considered. It wasn't exactly going to be an adult friendly evening. Her hands moved into his messy hair and his travelled under her red Burberry hoodie that Honor had given her for Christmas, his hands were rough against her bare back and the sensation resulted in Rory arching her back against his body. They were interrupted a moment later, breaking their embrace when they heard a round of groans coming from behind them, "all ready for the movie?" Rory felt her cheeks flush as she looked at the kids, "I'm going to make popcorn!"

"Alright miss they can't have two cupcakes - go ahead, make the popcorn," Logan walked towards his nieces and nephew and led them to the couch to turn on the television, "you didn't tell me what movie…."

"The Grinch," Rory shouted from the kitchen as she looked for the air popper.

"Jim or Benedict?"

"Benedict," Rory shouted back.

"I thought we were watching The Grinch?" Catherine made a face.

"The Grinch is for little kids," Jude groaned.

"Aunt Ror knows how to put on a movie night like no one else, just go with it," Logan told Jude, "and Cat, Jim and Benedict are the actors who played The Grinch. I happen to agree that the newer version is much better. Normally," Logan nodded towards Rory, "she thinks that the older version is always better, but Jim Carrey is just a bit creepy."

"Mom says that Uncle Finn is creepy," Catherine smirked.

Logan chuckled and pulled his niece in for a hug, "Uncle Finn is a different type of creepy, but your mom has the right idea about Uncle Finn…"

"Mom says he's family," Ella interjected.

Logan nodded his head, Finn had been around the kids since they were born, and sure it was mostly holidays and special occasions, he always managed to blow into town with over the top gifts that Honor thought was ridiculous and he was always the life of the party. He was willing to get on the floor and play with the kids when all of the other adults were unwilling and for that reason, the kids all loved him. "Finn is family."

"Are you two gonna get married?" Ella asked quietly, looking between Rory and Logan who were sitting on opposite ends of the couch now, three children comfortably between them.

Rory smiled and Logan looked at her uncomfortably, "we're happy," Rory stated simply. "We love each other, and we love you guys, and that is all that matters I think." She paused for a moment as she watched Ella nod, "what do you think?"

"But if you're not married, what happens if you break up?"

"The same thing that happens when someone gets a divorce," Logan shrugged. "But we don't plan on breaking up."

"Can I have more popcorn?" Catherine interrupted.

"Sure honey," Rory nodded and took the bowl from Jude who was holding it on his lap. It was funny to her, Paris had kids, Lane had kids, she had gotten to know Jude, Ella and Catherine over the past year, but how quickly they were able to move from one thing to the next was astounding. "Anyone else need anything?" she asked as she made her way to the kitchen.

"Can I have a Coke?" Jude shouted behind her, "please," he added a moment later when he saw a pointed glare from his uncle.

"Sure. Babe," Rory called back to Logan, "you good?"

"I'm good," Logan assured her.

By the time the second movie was nearing it's end, Ella and Catherine had both fallen asleep on the couch. Catherine was curled up against Logan and Ella was leaning on Rory's shoulder. Jude for his part was still awake but had moved to sit on the floor. "We should," Rory nodded to the little girls on the couch.

"Jude are you good to stay down here while we put them to sleep?" Logan asked, relieved that Rory had suggested about an hour earlier that they all put their pyjamas on.

"Sure," Jude mumbled.

Rory smiled and moved slowly to lift Ella in her arms, the girl was heavy, but there was something that felt so normal about just picking her up and walking her to the room upstairs that the two had chosen to share for the evening. Logan followed a few steps behind her with Catherine and Jude moved onto the couch once they were gone. When both girls were tucked into bed, Rory smiled as she watched Logan maneuver their blankets to make sure they were covered and then he kissed each of them on the cheek before turning off the lights and meeting Rory in the doorway, "and to think, this time last year," Rory looked at her watch, it was now a few minutes after eleven.

"We were dancing…or drinking…"

"Drinking and dancing," Rory laughed.

Logan kissed her gently as she pulled the door closed, the pad of his thumb stroking her cheek gently, "god I love you."

Rory pulled him close and kissed him back, her hands quickly running through his hair which was messy from laying on the couch, "I love you too."

"We should go check on the third."

Rory nodded her head, "we should. I'm surprised we haven't heard from Honor?"

Logan laughed, he remembered the first time he took Jude for a sleepover after Ella was born and how Honor had called at least once an hour for the duration of the visit, when Catherine had been born and he had started taking Ella and Jude on occasion, the calls became less and less. He figured now that they had their fourth child, Honor would consider no news good news, and as long as no one was calling from the hospital, she wouldn't concern herself with it. "She knows they are having fun," he told her, "and she knows we'll call if something is wrong."

"You own't miss it?" Rory asked before they got to the stairs.

"Miss what?" Logan asked her.

"Having kids," Rory asked softly, "you're good with them…you don't think there will be something missing for you?"

Logan shook his head, "I love them, I would do anything for them…but Ace, we're so busy, both of us, and I can be a great uncle, and I can love them…I don't think it means I'm meant to be a great dad." Rory nodded her head, in some ways she was relieved. He was right, she knew he was right, they had discussed it many times. "Did this change anything for you?"

"No," she admitted. "but this is fun."

Logan smiled as they began walking down the stairs and saw that Jude was now asleep on the couch, "and then there was us."

"You think you're gonna carry him?" Rory laughed.

"I've got muscles," Logan leaned over and picked up Jude, sticking his tongue out at Rory as he headed back up the stairs. Rory for her part took advantage of the moment to tidy up the popcorn bowls and the various drinks that were on the coffee table. The kitchen was mostly tidy and she grabbed a pair of beers from the fridge and opened the bottles before returning to the couch. She sat in the middle, knowing that Logan would sit on the end and she would snuggle up against him. For a moment she closed her eyes and thought back on everything that had gone on in the last thirteen months. First and foremost, she had fallen in like with Logan Huntzberger. Their arrangement had led to a friendship that she cherished, it had gotten her through a dark and difficult time in her life after her breakup with Jess. She had made new friends, she had gained more family. Logan had challenged her and pushed her, but he had also been in her corner no matter what. After like came something else, something more. She had fallen in love with him in a way that she had never imagined was possible. Maybe it was being rooted in friendship, maybe it was that she could simply be herself with Logan, but he made her feel like herself, the best version of herself. "What is going on in that pretty little head of yours?" Logan asked a moment later when he joined her on the couch, slipping beside her and grabbing the beer as he plopped himself down.

"What did you think last year?"

"Last year?"

"On New Years Eve…"

Logan smiled and put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close and inhaling the scent of her shampoo. "Honestly I was hoping we might hook up, that was what I hoped for when I saw that dress you were wearing," he grinned, "and then we talked, and…I would be lying if I said I didn't want to see you naked, but I liked getting to know you."

"I wore the dress to impress you," Rory admitted, her cheeks flushing as she spoke. "I figured after the Christmas situation at the very least I knew you weren't a complete sleaze."

"Glad to have met your expectations."

"I," Logan brushed a stray hair away from her eyes, "am very glad I didn't sleep with you then, because something tells me we wouldn't be here today if we had done that."

"Something tells me you're right," Rory agreed.

"My meeting with my dad today," Logan paused and took a sip of his beer. "He is worried that if we don't get married, and I take over the company, that we won't really be able to protect you from the fallout. From becoming…a target. Sorry, I don't mean to dump this on you…tonight is supposed to be fun, but…I can't not tell you. He's a traditionalist, he thinks things should be done the way they always have been…there has always been a Mrs Huntzberger along with Mr Huntzberger…."

Rory nodded as she considered what he was saying. His forehead was creased, he looked concerned by what her reaction was going to be. "What do you mean a target?"

"Just with the media, the press. You have a big job, you have a great job, and people will concern themselves more with who you are, who you're dating than your actual work. So…if we're married, if we make it official, then my dad thinks people will see it as more of a real thing…"

"Do you think that makes it more real?" Rory asked him.

Logan shook his head and smiled at her, "no, I don't."

"Same," Rory agreed. "So fuck it. Fuck them. I'm not going to marry you because your dad thinks it is a sensible business arrangement. We're happy. We're good. If someone wants to come for me, let them come for me. I went to Chilton, I went to Harvard….I worked a presidential campaign trail, I got a job at The Times…I am best friends with Paris Gellar…I can handle people questioning my relationship."

"And if you decide you can't?"

"If there comes a day when you look at me and don't feel this way about me, or if I don't love you like I do right now…then we'll cross that path. But until then, I think we're wasting our time worrying about what might come. I won't let the fear of what could happen in five months or five years stop me from loving you right now."

"You sure you're not supposed to be a romance novelist?"

"Maybe if I get chased out of the business for sleeping with the boss."

"There are children here," Logan kissed her gently.

"There is one thing I want to thank you for," Rory told him between kisses.

"What is that?"

"Thank you for bringing that girl to Thanksgiving."

"It was my civic duty," Logan laughed. "I'm glad Richard and Emily dragged you along."

"Me too," Rory agreed.

They didn't talk much more that night. They remained curled up on the couch until it was time to watch the countdown. Logan grabbed a bottle of champagne and they toasted. To the future, to the past, to them. As she closed her eyes and put her head on his shoulder while they watched the festivities, it was like she could see it all. She could see their future, she could see birthdays an holidays, Christmas parties and weddings. Without opening her eyes she smirked. It wasn't lost on her, the irony of course. This man, this man she had met and used as a holidate had in fact been the love of her life. Maybe it was fate. Maybe if they had met earlier. If they had met when her grandparents or his parents had dragged them to countless parties over the years, maybe it wouldn't have worked then. Rory had to believe that the experiences they had individually is what made them compatible at this stage in their lives. It was what made her so sure that he was her forever. No matter what else happened, she couldn't imagine her life without Logan by her side.