Soon it was the day of the LDB event and while she was excited, she was also nervous. These people knew she was there to write a story and she was unsure of how she would be received, and she was also not looking forward to spending time with the girls that already hated her. But despite all her apprehension she was looking for to seeing this with Logan and he was excited to share this part of his life with her. She needed more adventure, to relax and learn how to take things as they came at her instead of the perfectly planned life she had grown up with. Each day that passed they fell deeper for the other and he hoped that this would be first of many adventures they would have together.
Logan had avoided giving her any details for the event, only telling her that she would need to be blindfolded and he would pick her up at 4. As soon as the elevator arrived in the parking garage, he placed the blindfold over her eyes. "You ready Ace?" he asked as he led her to the waiting SUV.
"Well," she sighed as the door opened and he helped her in.
"Hit it!" Logan exclaimed as soon as he closed the door and helped Rory buckle her seat belt.
"Ah! Not so loud," Finn groaned.
"You're very auditorily sensitive today," stated a female voice that Rory didn't recognize.
"Oh, and your voice helps?" Finn retorted with a groan.
"Is the blindfold secure?" Colin questioned and Rory sighed.
"Secure and in place," Logan stated as he turned to look at his friend.
"Its one of the conditions Logan," Colin pressed, and Finn groaned at the bantering.
"What's wrong with Finn?" Rory asked with a small smile.
"Great job with the blindfold, Logan," Colin stated he was already irritated about some of the conditions the group had come up with, while he had not known Rory that long he trusted her to not revel who they were.
"I recognized your voices, Colin," Rory replied in an exasperated tone and Logan chuckled.
"Could everyone keep it down, please," Finn wined.
"Can we remove the blindfold now?" Rory asked. "And should Finn really be driving?"
"We're also hiding our destination," Logan replied intertwining their fingers.
"We had to leave at this ungodly hour," Finn whined again.
"It's four in the afternoon," Rory retorted.
"He's got a thing about the sun," Logan told her and tried to stifle a laugh at Finn's dramatics.
"It's too bright," Finn groaned as he pulled out of the garage.
"So how come you're not wearing your gorilla masks?" she questioned. "And before you say anything Colin, I can tell because your voices aren't muffled."
"She's sharp," the girl stated with amusement in her voice.
"Who's the girl?" Rory questioned hoping to find out a name.
Turning slightly the girl studied Rory for a moment before answering. "I've been told we've met. I've no memory of it."
"Oh, Gorilla Girl," Rory stated with laughter in her voice.
"Oh, well, isn't that a pretty nickname," the girl answered with a hint of annoyance lacing her words.
Logan turned to face Rory, wanting to catch her reaction to his next bombshell. "Oh, by the way, this thing's overnight."
"Overnight?" Rory questioned slightly irritated that he hadn't told her.
"Didn't I mention that before?" he replied with a smirk.
Rory dug her nails into his hand and looked over at him wishing he could see her eyes. "Oh, must have slipped your mind."
"That doesn't screw up anything for you, does it?" he teased knowing that she had planned on trying to work ahead on some assignments.
"No," Rory stated, obviously annoyed.
Logan let out a chuckle, "No?"
"Nope," Rory replied again as she turned to face forward.
He couldn't hold back his laughter but managed to reply, "Hmm. Loose schedule. Good."
"We like our schedules loose, like our women," Finn joked.
"Clever," Colin stated also trying to hold back his laugh.
"My God, it's early," Finn whined, and the car's occupants started laughing.
The rest of the ride was uneventful with the guys picking on Rory and Stephanie watching the interactions between Logan and Rory. She had known Logan for years and she always felt like a little sister in the group. She was cautiously optimistic about this pairing hoping it would eliminate some of the girls that tried to become her friend to get with Logan. Hearing the two interact, and even how Rory teased Colin and Finn, she understood Logan's attraction to the brunette. Rory was witty and could keep up with the boys. As soon as they arrived at the location the car doors started opening.
"This mountain air has revivified me," Finn yelled with a laugh and took off running.
Logan sighed and looked at Colin and Stephanie. "Make sure he doesn't run off a cliff."
"Stephanie, it's your turn," Colin stated looking at the blonde.
"Finn! You slow down!" Stephanie replied with a sigh, grabbing a lantern from a table before taking off after Finn.
"You okay?" Logan asked Rory as he helped her out of the car.
"I smell trees," Rory retorted as he led her to the lanterns.
Logan laughed and grabbed a lantern before leading Rory into the woods. "Oh, nothing gets past you."
"So the firing squad is just up ahead?" Rory questioned to try and hide her nervousness.
He laughed at her for a second, "Yup, and there's a line. Damn."
"Seriously, Logan, is the blindfold coming off, or am I Patty Hearst-ing it the whole trip?" Rory sighed.
"It's coming off. It's coming off right now," he told her as they stopped and he pulled the blindfold off.
Rory let out a small gasp, "Oh, my." She looked around the clearing seeing a camp set up with white tents, candles, lanterns and turn of the century furniture.
"Is this what you expected?" he questioned as he led her into the camp.
Rory took in all her surroundings and then looked at him, a smile playing on her lips. "No, not at all what I expected," she answered honestly.
"Let me guess what you were thinking: sleeping bag, flashlights, keg, three boxes of stale Triscuits, half eaten bag of Oreos, some Doritos and a bong," he replied with a laugh enjoying the look of awe in her eyes.
"That may be exactly what I pictured," she laughed as she leaned against him.
"You can apologize later," he told her as he placed a kiss to her temple. "This is ours," he told her as he opened a tent flap.
"Ours?" she questioned as she stepped inside.
"Not much closet space, but the view's decent," he sighed as he pulled her against him. "And I am not about to let you out of my sight with these guys."
"It's cozy," she murmured as she leaned against him.
"Festivities start in half an hour," he told her not wanting to let her out of his arms. "And we need to change." He reluctantly let go of her and pulled out a box and placed it on the bed. He pulled a dress out and she let out a small gasp as she admired the white gauzy fabric. "Like it," he asked with a smirk and Rory pulled him towards her to kiss him passionately. "I take that as a yes," he murmured against her lips as they broke apart.
"I love it," she told him, and he placed a soft kiss on her lips.
"And as much as I want to continue this," he sighed, "we need to get dressed."
They changed and Logan loved watching the way she moved as she pulled off her jeans and he had to turn away in order to control himself from pulling her into him and making them late for the event. Soon they were dressed, and he admired her in the white gauzy gown he picked out for her and she blushed under his gaze.
"You look handsome," she told him as she looked at him admiring the way the white linen suit hugged his figure.
"You look amazing," he told her as he pulled her into him. "Before we go out there, I need to tell you about the conditions to you being here in a reporter capacity. First, no pictures," he told her as he grabbed her camera from the cot and put it in his pocket.
"Hey," she exclaimed while trying to grab it back and he chuckled at her.
"You'll get it back at the end of the trip," he told her as he placed a kiss to her lips. "Second, no names. Third, no physical descriptions of any of us. There are authority figures up and down Connecticut trying to nab us for things we may have done in the past. Naughty things."
She rolled her eyes, "You guys have done naughty things?" she questioned sarcastically. "But yes, I willl keep you all anonymous."
"What number am I on?" he asked with a laugh.
"Just at third," she replied.
"Fourth, no identification of our location," he continued as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
She sighed and looked into his eyes. "I don't know where we are."
"Fifth," he stated as he rested his forehead to hers.
"You're going to run out of -ifths," she giggled.
"Most important condition of all. You must agree not to interfere with the integrity of the event," he told her as he placed a kiss to her lips.
"What is the event, and how could I interfere?" she asked as she pulled slightly back.
"So you agree?" he asked against her lips.
"Yes, I agree," she sighed, and he kissed her slipping his tongue into her mouth and caressed her tongue with his.
When they broke apart for air, he moved his hands to cup her face. "Just have fun tonight Ace. Relax, you'll be fine, and I will be with you."
"Okay," she sighed and leaned against him.
They walked out of the tent and Rory gasped as she looked around at all the people dressed up and he smirked at her enjoying seeing all this through her eyes. They made their way through the people and he made introductions and he marveled at the way she picked up on not using the letter 'e.' He noticed the looks she was getting from the men, but he was secure in their relationship, he also noticed the glares she was receiving from the women and he tried to steer her to the ones he knew weren't interested in him. Soon they ate a buffet of food and he smiled at the way she tried everything and laughed and talked with Colin and Finn. After they ate and he could tell that she was comfortable Logan stayed at the table but watched her as she interacted with the other brigadiers. While it was obvious some of the females were standoffish there were enough that didn't care that she took the Huntzberger heir off the market that she was able to interact with people, and most of the men knew she was off limits and were respectful. There was something about her, the something that he noticed the first time he saw her. She was special, she cared and she was warm and that combination was nonexistent in society and it helped people open up to her.
"She fits, doesn't she?" Colin asked as he came up beside him.
"Yeah, she does," Logan answered as he saw one of the bigger players in the LDB walking towards Rory and a scowl crossed his face.
Colin looked at where Logan was focused and saw the exchange and sighed. "Do you want me to go over there?"
He shook his head and watched as Rory leaned closer to the guy and whispered in his ear and the guys face slightly paled and Logan chucked as the guy walked off. "I think she handled it."
Colin laughed as he saw the guy walk off. "She is something special."
"That she is," Logan sighed as he watched her walk up to Stephanie.
"Hi, Stephanie," Rory said as she walked over to the blonde.
"Oh, good, you're using 'e's," Stephanie sighed and noticed her empty hands. "No champagne?"
"No, I'll have some more later. So, who is the head of the group?" Rory asked trying to get more insight.
"There's no head of the group, Rory. We are an anarchy collective; we don't recognize leaders per se." she said with a hiccup.
"It just seems that there are some that seem to hold more… power I guess," Rory replied as she looked over at Logan.
Steph noticed where Rory's gaze had traveled and giggled, "you know there was a line to get to him before you came along."
"A line?" Rory questioned not sure where this was coming from.
Stephanie sighed at the Rory's naiveness. "A lot of girls wanted him and then you swooped in…"
"I did not swoop in," Rory defended. "I just met him. I didn't know who he was when we started talking."
"You know you're the talk of the event. There are a lot of guys interested in you," Stephanie stated suddenly changing the topic.
Rory rolled her eyes. "I'm with Logan and he is the only guy I want interested in me."
"You've changed him," Stephanie told her as she saw Logan watching Rory.
"I don't want to change him," Rory sighed.
Stephanie studied her and saw the uncertainty in Rory's eyes. "It's a good thing. I've never seen him look at a girl like he looks at you."
"I've never looked at a guy the way I look at him," Rory stated. "He's… different from anyone I met before. He makes me feel safe… my life has always been planned and he makes me want to live life for myself and not my family."
"Well, I think this calls for a drink," Stephanie said with a giggle and grabbed Rory a glass of champagne. They both took a drink and Rory started asking veiled questions to get more information about the LDB.
"Can I steal my girl?" Logan asked as he walked over to the two and wrapped his arm around Rory's shoulder.
"Of course," Steph giggled. "You two are so cute!" she exclaimed as she walked off.
They both laughed as the girl walked off and Logan moved so he was in front of Rory and wrapped his arms around her waist. "How are you doing?" he asked the concern evident in his eyes.
"I'm good," she sighed as the group started signing. "Its pretty," she stated with a smile.
"It's drunk," Logan retorted with a smile.
Rory giggled and pressed a kiss to his lips. "I still like it."
"I never said I didn't like it," he replied as he slowly started dancing with her. "I like having you here with me."
"I like being here with you," she stated as she rested her head on his chest. "Being with you makes me feel safe. I'm so happy I found you."
"I'm happy I found you to," he sighed and pressed a kiss into her hair and took a moment to breath in her scent.
The two eventually moved back to the group and socialized until he noticed her yawning and lifted her up to carry her to their tent. He helped her slip into one of his shirts and she curled into him and placed her head on his chest. He ran his fingers through her hair, and he took a moment to savor the feel of her laying on him and he knew that he was falling in love with her… With those thoughts he drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, he woke and looked at the sleeping beauty in his arms. Carefully he got up trying not to wake her and brushed his teeth and washed his face before going out to go to the bathroom and grab her a cup of coffee. When he walked back into the tent, he smiled at the way she curled into the cot and bundled herself into the blanket.
"Coffee," she muttered, and he smiled.
"I have coffee," he told her as he moved closer to her. "But you have to wake up to get it."
She opened her eyes and smiled at him before noticing he was getting dressed in a tux.
"Another day, another sartorial surprise," she said with a smile.
Logan helped her into a sitting position and handed her the coffee. "You need to start getting ready yourself."
She raised her eyebrow at him, and he laughed a little at her look. "Well, I didn't have the "it's an overnight thing" warning, so unless you want me to fashion something out of pinecones…"
"Hmmm, maybe some other time," he said with a leer that caused her to giggle. "Do you think I would have brought you out here and not made sure you had everything you needed?" She shook her head no and he placed a kiss on her head. "You have a toothbrush, your make-up bag, hairbrush and proper attire for today's festivities."
"Thank you, baby," she sighed as she caressed his cheek. "But you didn't have to get me anything new."
"I know I didn't," Logan told her. "But I wanted to, and you agreed to not interfere with the integrity of the event." She giggled and placed a kiss on his lips. "Now I am going to leave you before you force me to distract you even more. Now hurry."
"Okay," Rory sighed as he stood up and grabbed her hand to pull her out of the bed.
Logan walked out of the tent and Rory smiled and knew that she was falling in love. She quickly washed her face, brushed her teeth and hair before applying a little bit of make-up. After grabbing the box, she placed it on the cot and gasped when she pulled out a beautiful ballgown. She admired the design and the embroidery, and she loved how well Logan knew her to pick out something she would love. Quickly she pulled off the shirt and slipped on the dress.
Rory walked out of the tent and immediately saw Logan and the sight of him standing there took her breath away for a second. "I got your event integrity right here, mister."
He was mesmerized by the way she looked and moved closer to her. "Yep. I got an eye for dress sizes," he said as he placed a soft kiss on her lips and started to lead her away from the camp. "We go this way."
They started walking towards the group and then Logan picked up his pace noticing that the event had started. "Come on, hurry."
"You try running in a crinoline," Rory retorted as she tried to keep up with him.
"We're late," Logan chuckled.
"For what? The ritual sacrifice?" Rory joked as they walked into the group of people standing in gowns and tuxes.
"I do declare here gathered, one hundred and eighth assembly of the honorable Life and Death Brigade," Colin stated as he lifted his glass and Finn handed each of the a glass of champagne. "Please raise your glasses. In Omnia Paratus!"
"In Omnia Paratus!" the group exclaimed and Logan turned her to him and lifted his glass to her lips and she mimicked the motion and they locked eyes with each other.
When he lowered his glass he leaned towards her and whispered, "Now you might want to cover your ears." As a large gong is uncovered behind them.
"Why?" she asked and then the gong was banged, and the loud clang echoed in the field and everyone took off running.
Logan laughed at her expression. "And to think some groups just go bowling," he said and placed a kiss on her lips then led her off to the festivities.
She walked around and he convinced her to play a game of polo where the men are carrying carts which hold the ladies, who are leaning out the side, hitting a ball with mallets. After a bit he left her with Steph to go play paintball.
Soon she went to join him and heard a shooter yell "pull!" and she paused a moment watching them and one of the guys exclaimed, "good shot" as a guy acting as the target. "Is this safe?" she asked.
"No," the group responded.
Shaking her head, she walked off towards were Logan and Finn were shooting. Finn pulled her into a hug and then lifted his gun to take another shot. "Pull! Pull! All right, I'm bored. I want to be a target."
"You're always a target, Finn," Logan laughed as he pulled Rory into him and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
"In Omnia Paratus," Finn yelled and the group echoed as he ran off to be the target.
"You want to interview Finn, Ace, you should do it quick," he told her, and she moved back so he could shoot again. "Pull!"
"Not bad," she told him with a smile. "And I'll talk to Finn again later if I need to. He already gave me some information. So, is this your big stunt?"
Logan laughed, "Big stunt?"
"According to my research, you guys always do one big thing at your gatherings," Rory stated. "Is this it?"
"Does it look like it?" he replied with a smirk.
"I'm guessing no," she sighed.
"You answered your own question," he told her and handed his gun off to another guy that was walking by. "You'll know it when you see it."
Before Rory could say anything two guys walked by carrying Finn on a stretcher. "I missed the mat," he moaned and slightly sat up on the cot.
"Again?" Logan stated with a slightly incredulous look.
"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. In Omnia!" Finn moaned and fell dramatically back on the cot and Logan laughed.
"Are you going to check on him?" Rory asked with a slightly worried look.
"We can check on him later," Logan told her. "We have medics that will take a look at him."
"Okay," she sighed.
"You're a good person Ace," he said as he cupped her face and gave her a soft kiss. "Let's go get you something to eat." They walked off and had a bite to eat and Logan laughed with her as they watched the polo game. He left her to go check on some things and Steph came over soon to lead her towards an area that had a huge scaffold that had been set up and several people were already standing on the top holding umbrellas. Rory stopped and studied the scene in front of her.
"Hope you're thinking up superlatives," Logan chuckled as he walked over to her.
"What are they going to do?" Rory asked as she turned to look at him.
He smirked at her and asked, "what do you think they're going to do?"
"They're not going to jump," she exclaimed, and Logan laughed at the look on her face. "That's like seven stories! They'll die!"
"We're all going to die one day," he responded as he looked at her.
"But those four are today," she stated looking worriedly at the scaffold.
"Six," he stated waiting for her reaction.
Rory turned to look at him, "I see four."
"I'm heading up," he told her.
Her eyes narrowed at him and she bit out, "of course you are."
"And Finn was supposed to do it, but few of us figured he'd make it this far, so there's an extra space," he gently stated.
"Hmm," she sighed and then noticed the glint in his eyes, and she exclaimed, "No!"
"And we're not going to die. No one in the Life and Death Brigade has ever died. Old ones have," he tried to reassure her.
"I am not going to jump!" she told him with a slight glare in her eyes.
A guy walked over to them, "we're all set."
"This is Seth, he's the genius behind all this," Logan introduced.
"It's very safe. We did a dozen successful test drops, every potato came through without a scratch," Seth stated, and Logan gave him a slight glare.
"Potato?" she asked incredulously.
"You can't test using people, that'd be dangerous!" Logan tried to joke.
"Look, thanks for the offer, but I'm here as a journalist. An observer. Journalists do not participate," she stated trying to get out of this but seeing the determined look in Logan's eyes.
"Since when?" he retorted waiting to see what she would come up with, loving the opportunities to debate with her.
"Since forever," she stated.
"George Plimpton never participated," he pressed and raised his eyebrows slightly at her. He waited a moment for her reply and when she didn't say anything he continued with his argument. "His best stuff put him in the think of it. Fighting Sugar Ray Robinson, quarterbacking for the Lions, skating for the Bruins."
"So, he participated," she sighed still trying to formulate an argument.
"Bill Buford lived with soccer hooligans in amongst the thugs. Ernie Pyle was so deep in the action in World War II, he was killed by a Japanese sniper, not that you gotta go that far," he stated the teasing in his eyes growing.
"Buford, Pyle. I know," she repeated, and he chuckled.
"Richard Hottelet was four months in a Nazi prison working for the U.P. Hunter Thompson lived with the Hell's Angels. Got in the muck, didn't just orbit around it, and it drove his writing. He put you in those biker's parties. He put you in those biker's heads," he stated knowing he was close to convincing her.
"All right, all right, so, those guys participated. I got it, but I…" Rory started but was cut off by Colin yelling "Jumper to their places, please!" and he gave Rory a pointed look.
"You're scared," Logan stated still looking at her.
"Well, yeah!" she responded as she focused back on Logan.
"And that stops the greats?" he questioned with a smirk.
"It's stopping this great!" she exclaimed.
"Come on, you said you wanted some adventure," he stated and she raised her eyebrows at him. "You have always been a little sheltered," he continued and when he saw she was softening he went in for the kill. "It'll be fun, it'll be a thrill. Something stupid, something bad for you. Just something different," he paused and moved next to her with his arm around his waist. "Isn't this the point of being young? It's your choice, Ace. People can live a hundred years without really living for a minute. You climb up here with me, it's one less minute you haven't lived."
"Let's go," Rory stated as she turned to look at him.
"Let's go!" Logan repeated as he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the ladder.
"But I am not a fan of ladders," she muttered as she looked up.
"They scare the crap out of me, too," he answered and she started climbing with him behind her to catch her if she fell.
When they reached the top Rory took a deep breath, "high. We are very high."
"I've been higher," he responded trying to calm her.
"I meant distance from the ground," she retorted as she turned slightly to look at him when they reached the two empty spots.
"That, too," he stated with a smile.
"This is totally safe. And it goes with your outfit. Nice," Seth stated as he wrapped a band around her waist, which the bungee line was connected to.
Rory looked down and pointed to the group before looking at Logan. "Why do they look so worried?"
"We're low on champagne," he told her and cupped her face to make her look at him. "You can back out, you know. No one's forcing you."
"I know," she told him and grabbed an umbrella.
"You trust me?" he asked and she knew he meant more than just this jump.
She gave him a smile before stating, "You jump, I jump, Jack."
Below them the group cheered, "In Omnia Paratus"
"I really should have confirmed that those potatoes were okay," Logan stated and grabbed her hand and jumped with her. The crowd cheered as they landed safely. "You did good, Ace!" he exclaimed as he turned to her and pulled her closer to him.
"Once in a lifetime experience!" she exclaimed as she looked at him, the excitement twinkling in her eyes.
"Only if you want it to be," he whispered as he pulled her towards him and pressed a passionate kiss to her lips and she quickly responded. The kiss continued until the catcalls from the group broke them apart and Rory buried her head into Logan's chest, and he laughed. "Come on Ace," he laughed. "Let's get some champagne and its almost time for us to leave."
The two socialized and then Rory was initiated into the LDB much to her surprise. Logan was happy that she was now a part of the group and would be able to participate in all the events with him. Soon they arrived back at Yale and as the car pulled into the garage Rory kissed him and asked, "stay with me?"
"Of course," he replied and got out of the SUV with her. "I'll see you guys later."
The two made it up to the apartment and both got ready for bed. Soon they were laying down with Rory's head on his chest. "Thank you for this weekend she told him," she told him, and she nestled closer to him. "And thank you for convincing me to jump."
"I was worried you were going to be upset with me for that," he told her honestly and she moved to look at him.
"Your right," she told him with a sigh. "All my life has been structured and planned. I went to Europe wanting to find out who I am, not who everyone else expects me to be. With you… you push me out of my comfort zone, you push me to want to see what I can do."
He placed a kiss on her temple, "I like watching your eyes sparkle when I challenge you. Or how you get nervous and analyze things before you take the risk… but the look on your face when you do it." He sighed at took a moment to get his words together. "When I convinced you to walk around Paris with me you had this glint in your eyes like you were accepting a challenge and the more I got to know you I know how cautious you are but when you throw caution to the wind you get this look in your eyes of… triumph. I love seeing you when you get that look."
She placed a soft kiss on his lips before resting her head back on his chest. "You have made me realize that I need to take chances… the rewards can be pretty amazing."
A look of surprise crossed his face but it quickly changed to a smile. He knew that she made him want to work hard, to realize that him doing well in school was more for himself than his dad but he never realized that he was helping her grow as much as she was helping him.