Chapter 22

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, settings, music, or movies mentioned.

AN: Here we go, this is the Christmas Ball chapter and the next one will be their Christmas trip with the whole group. I wrote this in about a week so I'm striving for weekly updates now, but we'll see, life tends to get in the way. Please review! I love getting review just like you guys love getting updates so please, please take 30 seconds to leave some feedback. Also make sure to check my Pinterest board "Misters Before Sisters" on my account roryandloganhuntz. All the pictures from this chapter will be on there. Enjoy!

Friday, December 21

Girls night. It was an interesting concept and one Rory had found she enjoyed every once in a while when she had them with Elle. Of course, Elle grew out of having 'girls night' her little sister around junior year, the same year it seemed she had outgrown Rory all together. But now she was suddenly all for it again, although it may be because Steph now joined them.

The three of them settled in the girl's dorm for a solid night a pampering before the annual Christmas Gala. You name it they did it that day, face masks, hair masks, manicures, pedicures, detoxes, waxes, the works. And all to prepare for the living hell that would be tomorrow.

They even went out and shopped for their dresses, shoes, and jewelry, well Elle and Steph did. Rory was instructed not to as her boyfriend had already picked these out for her. If she didn't trust her man so much, she'd be worried. But she knew she may even like his choices better than her own.

They were even decked out in Christmas pajamas as they sat on the couch with popcorn and tea.

"Ok I wasn't going to ask but now I have to," Steph said, interrupting the movie they had sat down to watch.

"Ask who what?" Rory asked.

"You. What's with all the sexy lingerie and pajamas? And not just tonight, I mean this whole month?"

"Oh," Rory laughed. "That was an early Christmas present from Logan, for me and himself I think."

"I should've known," Steph said.

"You remember that Victoria Secret Ad that came out towards the end of November?"

"The one with the 25 days of Christmas looks? One for every day?" Elle asked.

"That's the one," Rory said.

"Damn, I hate to say it but Huntz did good," Steph laughed.

"Right? I figured a could at least wear them all for him," Rory said. "Even when he's not here."

"You say that like you didn't send him a picture," Elle said, rolling her eyes.

"And like you won't be crawling into his bed tonight after we've fallen asleep," Steph added.

"Both excellent points," Rory laughed.

"You two are inseparable, aren't you?" Elle asked.

"Well I love him, I don't want to do something as stupid as not sleep with him tonight," Rory said.

"Steph and Colin aren't that co-dependent," Elle pointed out.

"Steph and Colin don't see each other for only 2 days every week and live an hour apart. If I was here and practically lived with him, then maybe one night wouldn't kill me, but I know I have to appreciate every moment I get with him right now," Rory said.

"I get that," Steph said. "I can't imagine not being able to see Colin every day."

"It sucks," Rory laughed humorlessly.

"What happens when you go to Harvard?" Elle asked.

"Um… well, I mean…," Rory trailed off, not answering the question.

"Well…?"

"What if I didn't go to Harvard?" she asked quietly.

"What?!" Elle asked, literally scooting to the edge of her seat.

"I said-,"

"I know what you said, but Ror…" she started. "I mean Harvard is the dream, right?"

"Dreams can change," Rory shrugged.

"For a guy?"

"No, not for a guy. For Logan. For the guy."

"The guy?!" Steph asked, excitedly. Personally, she didn't care which school Rory went to as long as she was happy, and Logan was happy. Rory was like the little sister she never had and growing up Logan has always been the brother she did have.

"Well, maybe. Yale is a great school too and I just… I don't care how long I've been thinking about Harvard. I know for a fact that I just won't be happy there, knowing that Logan is here and so far away from me, when he could have been right next to me every night," she explained.

"I get that," Steph said.

"Steph," Elle said sternly.

"What? I do. I would be devastated if I couldn't be with Colin like I am now. And knowing how close she and Logan are, I can't imagine it's much of a cakewalk now," she said.

"No, it's not," Rory confirmed. "It sucks, and I miss him like crazy."

"Well if it makes you feel better he misses you too, which I'm sure you already know. He mopes around half the time and the other half he just talks about you or talks to you," she told her.

"Yeah, I know, but it's nice to hear," Rory laughed.

"Have you talked to Logan about not going to Harvard?" Elle asked.

"No, I haven't. Mainly because I know he would just tell me that as much as he would be thrilled to have me here, he also doesn't want to mess up my dream and I should make this decision based on me," she sighed. "And I want to make it based on me, but I want him, I need him. I don't need Harvard."

"Come here," Steph said, wrapping her arm around Rory's shoulder and letting her put her head on her shoulder. "You'll figure it out. And you should talk to him. But no matter what you do, it won't be the wrong decision. It'll be what you want most, and you shouldn't feel guilty no matter what that ends up being.

"Thanks, Steph," she whispered.

"No problem girly," she said, kissing her forehead. She was getting pretty good at this big sister thing.

3 hours later once the girls had gone to bed and Rory was sure they were both asleep, she grabbed her overnight bag, opened the door, and crept out. Logan's dorm wasn't too far away so she made it there within a few minutes and unlocked it with the key he had given her. She once again closed the door quietly and headed straight to Logan's bedroom. Having expected him to be fast asleep, she was rather surprised to find that he was sitting up in bed on the phone, shirt off, sweatpants on, and his laptop seemingly forgotten on her side of the bed.

He gave her a tired smile as she toed off her shoes and removed her coat. His handsome smile then brightened upon seeing her in the pajama set he had gotten her. Tonight's outfit consisted of a red onesie with the word "Pink" across the top of it. He raised his eyebrow a touch, covered the speaker of the phone and said, "Where's the rest of it?"

Raising her eyebrow in return, she lowered the zipper of the onesie to reveal the red lace bra that he had also gotten her. She let the top of the pajamas hang at her hips as she walked over to him, then shimmied out of it all together so he could see the lace panties that completed the set.

"Happy?" she mouthed.

"Very," he mouthed back, before answering the person on the other side of the phone. "Yeah, I'm still here. Sorry, Rory just came to bed."

Rory ran her hand up his arm and along his shoulder, then swung her leg onto the bed and settled in behind him. "Yeah we will be there tomorrow, I hope you get to meet her too."

Sitting up on her knees on the bed, she rested her hands on his bare biceps and ghosted them up and down his muscles and his forearms. She then brought her hands to his shoulders and started massaging them. "No, you cannot talk to her now," he said. "I've already warned her about you, but she thinks I'm kidding."

He had no idea how he was supposed to carry on a conversation and stay cognizant enough while his girlfriend's magic hands were making him so relaxed and her body was making him so turned on. He felt her smile as she kissed his neck and his jawline, running her teeth along his five o' clock shadow.

"Honor, we will see you tomorrow," he stressed as she kept pressing the question.

"You're going to look so sexy in your tux," she whispered in his other ear. A shiver went down his spine and he was itching to touch her.

"Yeah, love you too sis, bye," he said, hanging up the phone before then addressing Rory, "You are quite the little minx, you know that?"

"Mm, I try," she purred, nipping at his earlobe.

"And unbelievably sexy might I add," he said.

"Oh if you think this is sexy just wait until you see what I've got planned for you tomorrow and even on Christmas," she said.

"Are you telling me it's not something I got you?"

"Just those two days, a girl has to hold onto a few secrets," she said as he turned his head toward her and captured her lips in his. He somehow got a hold on her waist and moved her to straddle his lap. Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her like he had been dying to all week. The girls had refused to let her see him first, saying they would get "too distracted and Rory would never leave". Which, in their defense, was probably true.

"I actually have two surprises for you, but you can't enjoy either of them until tomorrow," she said, pulling at his bottom lip.

"And why is that baby?"

"If I told you now, it wouldn't be a surprise," she whispered.

"Can you tell me about one of them?" he asked, looking up at her with his gorgeous brown eyes.

"Depends," she sighed. "How badly do you want to know?"

"What do I have to do?" he asked.

"Bring me breakfast in bed tomorrow?" she asked, her eyebrow raised.

"Sounds like a fair trade," he shrugged.

"Alright, I'll tell you one of them," she said, removing his hands from her face and moving them down her back, then resting her own around his neck. She leaned in close, kissed him softly, and then said, "I went to my OBGYN last week with Elle. I started the pill. And as of tomorrow, we are free to have sex, without condoms."

"Well Merry fucking Christmas to me," he grinned. "Holy shit, really?"

"Really," she giggled, kissing him again.

"Oh my god, you have no idea how happy that makes me Ace," he said, moving one hand right back up to her neck, holding her as he practically attacked her lips. She gasped into his mouth and tried to respond in kind. His kisses were always overwhelming and loving, but this time it was more than that, it was intoxicating, it was animalistic, it was passionate, there wasn't really even a word to describe it.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the best day for kisses like this as the ache in her core couldn't be dealt with. Her other surprise for him was a bikini wax and full body wax she had gotten with the girls. She was instructed to abstain from sex for 24 hours after the bikini wax as there was a higher risk of infection. Well, she wouldn't be getting off tonight, but she also didn't want him to initiate anything and have to tell him no.

Taking matters into her own hands, she moved her legs to straddle his knees, pushed him back on the bed, and slipped her thumbs into the hem of his pajama pants. Smirking at her, he flexed his hips upward, for her to pull them down easier. Once they were off and on the floor with her own pajamas, she readjusted herself and leaned down, kissing the head of his cock.

He hummed when he felt her warm lips on him. She opened her mouth and took him in, circling her tongue around his tip, making him moan and flex his hips again. Pulling him out, she cocked her eyebrow at him. "Stay still, Mr. Huntzberger."

He growled and shook his head, not happy that something he so often said to her was being thrown back at him, but also amused. She then dipped her head back down, continuing on, slowly taking him deeper and deeper as she sucked him.

"Shit Rory…that's fucking incredible. How far can you go, baby?" Logan wondered out loud. Rory looked up at him through her eyelashes and her head sunk deeper, taking him in, her lips hitting his hilt. She sucked harder and he grabbed onto the tendrils of her hair, moaning her name. She continued working up and down, keeping her eyes on him, watching while his eyes kept rolling back into his head, his fists clenching her hair roughly.

"Shit, Rory! Fuck…if you don't want to swallow…" She hummed and sucked harder, and before he could finish his sentence, he came, groaning her name. She gave his tip one last kiss before sitting up and grinning at him while he recovered.

"Babe you should know by now that I'm going to swallow," she said, kissing this corner of his mouth.

"My god you are good at that," he panted. Giggling, she settled next to him and cuddled into his chest.

"Mm, I try," she teased. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to press a kiss to her forehead.

"It shows," he said. "And in a minute, it'll be your turn."

"As much as I would absolutely love that, you're exhausted," she said, running her hand through his hair. "And just think, how much better will it be tomorrow when the first time you make me come all week will be with nothing between us."

"Pretty damn amazing," he chuckled, kissing her again.

"Then it's settled, go to sleep," she said, giving him one more, quick peck before reaching over him to turn off the lamp on his bedside table.

"I love you," he said, once she had settled back into his arms. "More than you'll ever know."

"I love you too sweetheart, so, so, much more than you'll ever know," she responded, placing a sweet butterfly kiss on his chest, just above his heart.

Running his hand through his hair once more, he continued to pace back and forth outside the door. He had shown up two minutes ago to pick up Rory from the girl's dorm since they had, once again, stolen her for the day. Unfortunately, he was greeted by Elle who opened the door only long enough to tell him she would be ready soon but not yet. Considering that Elle had still been in a fluffy bathrobe it might not really be "soon".

The click of the door opening forced him to turn around and look up. And there she was. His girlfriend, his Ace, his everything, standing in the doorway. And there wasn't a single cliché in the book that could even begin to describe how he felt when he saw her. He was speechless, stunned, like the wind had been knocked out of him. His whole world was standing there in the most amazing red strapless ball gown, a dark red velvet bodice with a sweetheart neckline, and an A-line tulle skirt that fell to the floor perfectly. Her soft, chocolate locks were in big full curls, framing her face and her lips were painted a deep red.

Gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. And all mine. How the fuck is the gorgeous amazing woman mine? I should probably say something. Why am I not saying anything? She probably thinks I've lost my mind, just standing here staring at her like a dope. But my god I can't help it. I've never seen anyone or anything so… utterly perfect.

"Oh. My. God," he finally stuttered, clearing his throat. "You're perfect."

"That's what you think now, wait till I step on your foot later," she giggled. And there's the fucking cherry on top. That adorable laugh. "Stop staring and come kiss me."

"Well I can't say no to that," he said, making his way to her, her arms went to rest on his neck. Cupping her face with one hand, he rested the other on her hip and then his forehead against hers. "You really are stunning."

"Thank you," she whispered. "You look incredibly handsome yourself."

"We're quite the couple huh?" he teased, kissing her red lips softly as not to mess them up.

"I guess so," she agreed, kissing him a little more, knowing her matte lipstick wasn't going anywhere.

"You know what," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a black box. "I might have to retract my perfection comment because you won't be perfect until I've put these on you."

Taking the box in her delicate hand, she lifted the top and gasped softly at its contents. "I…I…Logan, this is… wow."

"You like?" he asked.

"I love," she breathed out before returning her gaze to him. "Thank you." Her other hand went to his cheek and held him still while she kissed him deeply.

"Good," he whispered. "Now hold that gorgeous hair back and I'll put them in."

"Ok," she nodded. Sweeping her hair behind her shoulders, she handed him the box and he took the ruby earrings out. Gently, he placed and secured both of them in her now perfect ears.

"Beautiful," he said, kissing her nose and bring her hair foreword again.

"Is everyone else ready?" he asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and kissing her forehead only to come back down to her lips.

"Not quite," she sighed. "Maybe a few more minutes."

"Fine by me," he said, bringing his lips an inch away from hers. "I'm not ready to share you yet." With that, he did kiss her. He kissed her lips, then her nose, then her jawline, then her neck, then her shoulder. He kissed her anywhere he could reach.

Eventually, the rest of their group was ready and they all piled into the waiting limo outside. Finn immediately starting pre-gaming while the rest of them stuck to one glass each, or in Rory's case a few sips of Logan's and whatever was on the strawberry he fed her.

Every year the Gilmore, Hayden, and Huntzberger women went all out for the event. It was held at the Bond Ballroom, which was where Honor would be having her wedding as well and was always completely decked out in Christmas decorations. Twinkling lights and faux icicles hung from the balconies inside, an enormous tree stood in the center of the dance floor, and everyone was dressed to the nines in ballgowns and tuxedoes.

Upon arriving each couple or person broke off from the group to find their parents and grandparents. Small talk had to be out of the way before they could actually have any fun. And yes, sometimes they did have fun, especially when they all came together.

Rory and Logan made the smart decision to visit each family member separately before they could all find them. Just like they avoided a big group dinner, they had to avoid everyone getting together here. Surprisingly enough her Hayden and Gilmore grandparents both adored Logan and the two of them as a couple. Her parents were a different story, but they got through and moved on to his. Mitchum was a bigger ass hole than even Logan had expected so that conversation didn't last. But they ended up talking to Shira the longest, mainly about how school was going and what they were doing for Christmas. Sharia was actually going to see her sisters and Mitchum would be traveling for business so apparently, no one in the Huntzberger family would be together this year.

Well if they thought the conversation with Shira had been long, it was nothing compared to Honor. The girl had so many questions and hugs for Rory and poor Josh had no idea how to handle his fiancé's excitement. Logan knew eventually she would calm down and be able to have a rational conversation, so he stole his girlfriend away and took her out to the dance floor to get away from the crowds.

"So…?" he asked, holding her hip with one hand and resting the other on her back as he began to sway with her.

"No, you cannot say, "I told you so"," she said, poking his chest. "I really liked her."

"Really?" he asked, doubtfully.

"She was excited, yes. But I can tell she's a lot like Steph," she said.

"Well you're right there," he admitted.

"And I know how much she means to my hunky boyfriend so of course, I like her," she added.

"Hunky boyfriend huh?" he laughed, grabbing her hips and beginning to sway with her.

"Mhm," she said, squealing as he spun her out and back into his arms.

"Well, it seems we're standing under the mistletoe," he said, looking above them, where bunches of it was hanging from the ceiling.

"So it seems. And what are we supposed to do under the mistletoe?" she asked, feigning wonderment.

"Hm, something like this," he said, claiming her lips in his. She smiled into the kiss and slid her hands up to cup his face.

"I'm liking this mistletoe thing," she said.

"Me too," he mumbled. "You know I was thinking."

"About...?" she asked, resting her head on his shoulder.

"The very first time we danced here, and I remember how unbelievably happy I was that I finally got to hold you and kiss you," he said, stroking her hair as she nuzzled his neck.

"It was a pretty great night huh?" she said.

"It was the night I fell in love with you," he told her, kissing her head.

"Really?" she asked in her now emotion-filled voice.

"Really," he nodded. "I didn't realize I was in love with you until much later, but thinking back now, that's when I fell for you."

"You're so sweet, you know that?" she said, looking up at him through her eyelashes.

"I'm glad you think so," he chuckled.

"You are," she said, taking his hand in hers and kissing it. "And I also remember something else from that night."

"Oh yeah? What's that?" he asked.

"I remember you telling me how pretty I looked in my dress," she whispered, kissing his jaw. "And then you said you'd much rather see it on the floor of your bedroom."

"It's ringing a bell," he teased.

"And I remember how wet I got when you said that to me. Because you were so sexy and your voice was so husky. And I wanted nothing more than to go back to your dorm and give you something I had held onto for 18 years."

"But I loved you too much to do that, and I made my precious girl wait," he said in the same deep sexy voice he had used the night in question.

"Every time you told me you wanted it to be perfect I just wanted you even more. You were such a gentleman, you were so sweet," she said.

"Well, why don't I give the gentleman thing a break for a while and take you upstairs," he whispered hotly in her ear.

"Yes," she whimpered, inhaling a shaky breath.

"Come on, no one will miss us," he chuckled. With one last kiss on her neck, he grasped her hand tightly in his and led her off the dance floor.

As soon as they were out of the ballroom, Logan sprinted up the stairs and Rory hurried after him, her hand still locked in his. Making their way down the hallway, Logan scoured each room for the one he and Honor had hidden in when they were kids. Upon finally finding it, he practically yanked Rory in with him. They lunged for each other and their lips fused together. His hand immediately went to the zipper on the back of her dress as she ran her hands through his hair and trailed them down to his shoulders. Pushing his suit jacket off, she had to tug his hands from her body for it slide off his arms and to drop to the floor.

Rory let her dress fall as well, leaving her in only a black lace tanga, her red heels, and the earrings he had given her. Logan stopped for only a moment to take it in, she looked sexy as hell. But as soon had he got his bearings again, he grabbed her and backed her to the bed where he then threw her on top of it. Reaching his hand between her legs to rip her panties off, he was clearly in no mood for foreplay tonight. And frankly neither was she as he watched him throw the tanga over his shoulder.

She waited all of 2 seconds for him to notice his other surprise and by the look on his face, he absolutely loved it. "Fuck me," he exhaled sharply, unable to formulate a proper sentence as he started at the completely bare space between her legs.

"You like?" she asked seductively.

"Like?! I fucking love it," he said. "Is this the other surprise?"

"You're smart Mr. Huntzberger," she giggled.

"And you are damn sexy Ms. Hayden," he said, leaning down briefly to inhale the scent of her sex and kiss her sensitive core. He now had her writhing on the bed for him and he had barely touched her

Spreading her legs for him, she groaned when his mouth stopped but then sighed as two of his fingers entered her. He kept them there briefly, only long enough to gauge how wet and ready she was for him. Again, no foreplay, they would have time for that this week. These quick, hot fucks were just as pleasurable, if not more, than deep lovemaking. Especially when you add the risk of someone walking past the room and catching them, it made it feel urgent and sexy.

Clearly, he was happy with her arousal because he stood back, staring at her smooth, wet core once again and went for his belt buckle. Rory laid back on the bed as he untucked his shirt, her legs spread and propped up in her dark red pumps, waiting for him. And she wasn't waiting long. As soon as his rock-hard dick was free from its restraints, he was hovering over her, lining himself up, and sliding in. Well more like pounding in. And God did she love it. She reveled in finally having him inside of her after the night of fleeting kisses and lingering touches.

This was the first time they hadn't used a condom and it was absolutely amazing. The difference was unlike anything she had expected. Having him pound into her like this, skin on skin, nothing between them, it just made her love him even more. She felt closer to him.

She gasped and pulled at his hair at each thrust. His movements were wild, and his pace was punishing. "Logan," she moaned, her legs wrapping around his waist. He was thrusting in so deep she could have sworn she felt him in her stomach. And the stimulation of her nipples, rubbing against his pecks through his shirt at such a rapid pace made her head spin.

"You're so fucking tight Ace," he panted, taking her hands from his hair. He entwined his fingers with hers and laid their hands flat on the bed. The gained leverage helped him move faster and harder inside her. He knew that she loved this just as much as he did, this hard, fast fucking. And he wanted to give her the full extent of it, all of him.

"Oh," she gasped, breathily as she lifted her head to his, arching her back high off the bed. Her lips captured Logan's as best they could, and she kissed him to match each thrust, her tongue acting almost as his dick did. Their breathing was heavy and short, unable to be controlled at the rapid pace they were fucking. "Fuck me Logan don't stop."

He held back a grin at her words in the heat of the moment as if he could possibly stop right now. But she seemed to want more and damn it he would give her more. Breaking their lips with one last heat filled kiss, he pulled back from her and then pulled himself out. Before she even had time to question him, he had flipped her on her stomach and lifted her ass to his waist. "Yes," she breathed, giving him the go-ahead to continue. He placed his cock at the tip of her folds, teasing her before he fully sheathed himself inside of her once again. "Oh."

Creating a ponytail with her hair, he held tight to it as he thrusted hard, over and over again. Her hands gripped the bed sheets until her knuckles turned white. She bit her lip so hard she was sure it would draw blood, but she had too, it was taking all she had not to scream his name for everyone in the entire building to hear. The things this man did to her and made her feel were almost otherworldly and right now she was high on cloud nine.

Her eyes fluttered closed and her mouth dropped open as she literally panted for him. The edge was getting nearer, and she wasn't sure how much more she could take before she came. And knowing Logan, he was holding out for her to finish. "I'm almost there, I'm so close."

"Come on Ace, come for me," he said huskily, sending a shiver down her spine and a shot straight to her core. With one more, hard thrust, her walls clamped down hard on his dick and his warm liquid filled her within seconds. She made sure to wait for him to pull out before collapsing onto the mattress. She felt the bed dip as Logan sat down on it and laid right next to her. Turning her head to see him, she giggled at the exhausted and sated look on his face. Still in the top half of his tux, he was careful not to wrinkle it when he moved up the bed to lay his head on the pillow and motioned for Rory to do the same. She followed suit, moving beside him and sitting up on her elbows.

Logan ran a hand through her curls and cupped her face. Leaning into his palm, she kissed his hand softly and smiled. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love your boobs," he answered seriously, making her giggle and rest her forehead on his shoulder. Kissing her hair, he added, "I love you Ace."

"You think anyone knows we're gone?" she sighed.

"I doubt it," he said. "Other than Steph or Colin maybe."

"Mm, you don't think our unwanted admirers know we came up here to fuck each other senseless," she asked, running her thumb over his bottom lip and then over his cleanly shaven jaw.

"I sure as hell hope not but I wouldn't put it past them," he told her, grabbing her hand in his and kissing her knuckles. "And right now I don't want to think about them. I want to think about the fact that I just had my girl skin on skin, and it felt amazing."

"Well I have to agree with you there," she laughed.

"And the fact that you apparently got a bikini wax, and literally made my fucking year," he added.

"Yes, that too," she nodded, leaning into him for a real kiss.

"Seriously, come here," he said. The teasing in his voice was gone and she knew he really wanted to talk to her now. She closed the little bit of distance between them and Logan pulled the blanket from the bed up to cover them. She was now wrapped in his arms safely, so he started. "I just need you to know that as much as I loved it you didn't have to do it. I'm sure you know that, but I want to make it clear."

"My gentleman is back huh?" she asked softly. "Of course I know that. I wouldn't have done it if I didn't want to. Steph was doing it too, so I figured I'd try it. And yes, it was for you, but trust me, you've shown me on numerous occasions that you don't care."

"Good," he said, kissing her forehead. "I figured that would be easy, so now the second thing…"

"Which is?" she asked.

"I know we're not using condoms anymore, but since you're on birth control I'd say the chances of anything happening are roughly the same. I just wanted to talk about because the subject has been brought up and after what your parents went through…"

"I know," she said. "And we should talk about it, you're right."

"Look, all I want to say is that if anything did happen, if we did get pregnant, I'm not going anywhere. Which I think also goes without saying but I'm still going to say it," he said.

"You can trust me on this too, it absolutely goes without saying," she said. "Simply judging by the fact that you said, 'if we get pregnant', and not to mention you're incredibly protective and, have I mentioned, sweet?"

"You have," he laughed, tucking her hair behind her ear and fingering the rubies hanging from it.

"So it's settled, there's nothing to worry about because I am on birth control and if there was something to worry about, we would figure it out," she said. "Together."

"Together," he said.

"Well," she started. "Hopefully together. My dad might kill you if you get me pregnant."

"Yeah, yeah, there's that," he chuckled. "We'll just move."

"Move huh?" she laughed. "Sounds good."

"Ok, so now it really is settled. We figure out where to move, together."

"Yes," she said, kissing him deeply. "Together."