Chapter Thirty-three

"Mom, dad. You guys having a good time?" Logan asked as they approached the Huntzberger couple. Rory was gratified to hear the friendly tone of Logan's voice, but she frowned as she saw Mitchum stiffen at the question.

Shira smiled widely, opening her arms to hug Logan. "The wedding has been simply wonderful, Logan. You two look very happy together. Congratulations to you both."

"Thank you, Shira." Rory said, "You're right, it has been wonderful. My mother and Logan are responsible for it all, since I've been told to get as much rest as possible."

"Oh, of course. How are you holding up? Carrying a baby can be such hard work. I was permanently exhausted whilst pregnant with Logan."

Rory laughed softly. "I'm doing ok, I think. The sickness has been the hardest, but the doctor assures me it will pass eventually. Apparently having twins can make it worse. No one ever told me that before."

Shira's mouth dropped open. "Twins?"

Rory's eyes flicked to Logan, who shrugged. "Oh, God. Sorry, I thought you knew. Yes, we're having twins."

Mitchum's face was rapidly turning a deep shade of purple. He still hadn't spoken a word, so Rory ploughed on. "We've been coming up with names, would you like to hear a few?"

Shira nodded, an expression of interest on her face. Logan shifted nervously, eyeing his father as Rory started listing names. "Well, I would really like to honour my grandfather, so we've been toying with Richard. And Logan really likes the name Hunter-"

Rory noticed Mitchum visibly twitch as she said the second name. He finally spoke in a voice as cold as ice. "Hunter?"

Shira gave Mitchum a deadly stare, hissing at him under her breath. "Don't start."

"Yeah, dad, don't start." Logan chimed in. "It's just a name."

"Like Huntzberger was just a name, I suppose. Now Gilmore is just a name."

Logan turned a deep shade of purple. Rory noticed him clenching his fists as he took a step closer to his father. "You threw me out of the family, dad. You told me I wasn't fit to bear the Huntzberger name. And you said our bas- our children weren't fit to bear it either. You did this, no one else."

Shira gaped at her husband. "You said what to our only son?"

Rory stood silently by Logan's side, unable to think of a thing to say to diffuse the fight that was clearly coming. Worry coursed through her body as Mitchum squared his shoulders. Suddenly, Logan's hands flew to his head once more.

"Logan?" Rory said, "Are you sure you don't want something for that headache?"

"Nah, ace, I'm fine. We should get back to the party. Mom, save me a dance for later. Dad, you should probably leave."

Logan turned on his heel to head back to the barn and grabbed Rory's hand to pull her with him. He took a step, and his legs seemed to give way underneath him. Before Rory knew what was happening, Logan was on the ground.

"LOGAN!" Rory screamed, fear pounding through her veins as she dropped to her knees by Logan's side. "HELP!"

Looking up, Rory saw Mitchum towering over her. His face was ashen as he stood motionless, just staring at Logan's lifeless form. Then he seemed to jolt out of his stupor. "Shira, call an ambulance."

Mitchum lowered himself to the ground beside his son. "Logan, wake up son," he said as he shook Logan's shoulder gently. Logan didn't so much as blink. Not knowing what to do, Rory sat back allowing Mitchum to try and wake her new husband.

A crowd was gathering behind them, and Rory spotted Kirk. "Get my mother. Now."

"Rory? What's—oh my God. Logan? What happened?"

Rory cracked at the sound of her mother's voice behind her, and felt her cheeks grow wet under the onslaught of tears. "I don't know—he had a headache. Then he just collapsed."

Mitchum spoke softly. "He's breathing, that's the main thing."

Rory glanced towards Logan, stunned to see Mitchum's eyes welling with tears as he stared down at his son. Her heart broke as Mitchum began to talk quietly to Logan. "Son, I—I'm sorry. I should never have… You're going to be ok, you hear me? Huntzbergers don't quit." Mitchum flicked his eyes briefly to Rory, and nodded. "And neither do Gilmores. Come on, son. Wake up."

Logan didn't move. Rory felt a strong arm wrap itself around her shoulders, and leaned into her father's embrace as Christopher knelt beside her. "The ambulance is here," he whispered into Rory's ear. With a small nod, Rory pulled herself to her feet. She heard a small gasp, and cast her eyes down.

Logan had opened his eyes, and was looking up at them with a bewildered expression. Rory would have collapsed with relief at seeing his warm brown eyes again had it not been for her father, who caught her before she could fall into a heap. "Logan!"

"Ace? What's going on?"

"Shh, don't talk. You're gonna be ok."

"You gave me a scare then, son." Mitchum said, his voice full of concern.

"Dad?"

Logan seemed to be trying to sit up, but Mitchum gently pushed him down. "I'm here. The paramedics are coming now. Just lie still, son."

The crowd surrounding Logan backed away, and Rory pulled back with them to let the paramedics in to do their job. Noticing Finn standing a few yards behind her, his face ashen, Rory beckoned him to join her. He moved silently to her side and slipped his hand into hers. "He'll be ok, Rory."

Rory simply nodded as she watched the paramedics start to examine Logan.