In celebration of a completed though not edited chapter 18, I give you chapter 14. 15 will be up when I decide what to do with 19 so I think I need to ask for a bit of patience.
The idea that I have 173 reviews blows my mind. Seriously. I'm used to having to establish myself in a certain fandom before getting the feedback I am. I have never had this enthusiastic a response in a forum where I've just begun writing. You guys are beyond spectacular, though a special shout out, again, goes to EvenAngelsFall22, who found out how Sophie was linked to the Rory/Logan relationship. Hope you enjoy this one as much as the others, my dear!
Now, enjoy this. It's a little bit of worry and a lot of fluff to celebrate the holidays!
The afternoon of Christmas Day found Rory and Sophie in Stars Hollow. While Sophie, Kitty and Christopher goofed around in the snow, Lorelai and Rory got the chance to catch up.
"So tell me about you and Logan."
Rory groaned. "Must you live vicariously through me?"
"Of course," Lorelai responded. "What's he doing for Christmas?"
"Apparently he and Honour have an obligatory brunch with the family before he's free. I think he and his friends have an annual Christmas dinner, just the four of them."
Lorelai nodded. "And Honour's still coming down, right? I haven't had a chance to really talk with her in ages."
"You just want to grill her for stories on Logan," Rory accused with a smirk. "But yes, she should be calling any minute to say she's on her way."
"Well the grilling is a must, simply because of her brother, but I seriously haven't seen or talked to her in a while," Lorelai responded. "I'm glad you and Logan are still good."
Rory smiled. "We are," she acknowledged. "We're better than good."
Lorelai mirrored her daughter's grin. "I'm glad you're happy, sweets. Now, what did he get you for Christmas?"
Rory laughed. "I actually don't know. We haven't decided when to exchange gifts yet." Before she could elaborate more, her cell phone started ringing and she recognized the number for Honour's cell phone. "This is Honour, I'll be right back."
The brunette stepped onto the front porch, flipping the phone opened with a grin. "Gilmore-Hayden House of Happy Elves, Merry Christmas."
"Oh thank God, Rory!"
Rory knit her brows. "It's my cell phone, Honour, who else is going to pick up?"
"Sophie has, on occasion and so does your mother… That's not the point. Have you seen Logan?"
Now Rory was really confused. "Two days ago."
Honour groaned. "He had words with Mother at brunch today and stormed out. He's not answering his phone and his car's gone… no one has any idea where he could have gone."
Rory felt panic settle in her stomach. While Logan racing off after a confrontation with his mother was not surprising, the idea that he hadn't told anyone where he was going or think to answer his phone for Honour was. Still, she breathed in deep, focusing on her friend. "Okay, I'll call Colin, Finn and Steph and make sure they call either one of us if he ends up with them then I'll try him myself, okay?"
"I don't know where he is and he's angry and you know how he gets when he's angry and I'm not sure what to do, I mean I'm stilly at my parents' place and I know we always have plans for Christmas, but he's Logan and he's my brother and I need to find him—"
"Honour stop!" Rory exclaimed, surprised with how level-headed she was upon finding out her boyfriend was missing. "We're going to find him, but in order for me to be of any use in that department, I need to get off the phone with you. I promise I'll call you right back, okay?"
"Okay," Honour said weakly.
Rory sighed. "Go distract your parents or something," she suggested. "I'll let you know as soon as I've finished all my calls."
"Okay," Honour repeated.
"I'm hanging up now," Rory warned.
"Okay."
Rory felt bad when she pressed the end button on her cell, but pushed the feelings to the back of her mind. Right now, she needed to find Logan. Her first call, unsurpringly, was to Logan himself, on his cell and home phone. Both times she left messages. Then she moved on to his friends. Colin was the only one to pick up.
"McCrae."
"On an average day I'd argue with you about the formality of that greeting on Christmas, but Honour called me and said she couldn't find Logan," Rory spouted, all in one breath.
"Whoa, Rory?"
"Yeah?"
"Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, have you seen Logan?"
"We're not due to get together for another hour."
"That's a 'no'?"
"I haven't seen him."
"Talked to him?" Rory asked hopefully.
"Nope. Is something wrong?"
"Honour said he left in a huff. She's worried."
"Call his cell."
"We both have," Rory replied. "I even left a message on his home phone."
"He didn't pick up? He always picks up his cell."
"That's what I thought, but Honour and I have been calling and he hasn't picked up."
"I'll try and get back to you okay, hang on."
Lorelai stepped onto the patio as Colin put Rory on hold. "Everything okay, sweets?"
Rory shrugged and shook her head. "Honour's freaking out because Logan's missing."
"Missing?" Lorelai asked, immediately concerned.
"Long story short he had words with his mom and stormed out. Honour hasn't seen or heard from him since," Rory explained.
"You worried?"
"Of course I'm worried. I've known him a year and it's been a year of seeing him constantly. By this point I should hope I have some understanding of how he works."
"And this isn't good?" Lorelai didn't have the same insight her daughter did and forfeited to her.
"Logan and his parents don't get along. Heck, Honour and the Huntzbergers don't get a long but Honour tolerates them because they don't question the choices she's made. His mother hates me and his father only tolerates me. It's a huge issue with Logan."
"You think they talked about you?"
"Honour said he had words with his mother, so I can only assume it's about me. If it was his father it would be a totally different ball of wax and probably a lot easier to deal with." Then Colin clicked on again.
"Rory?"
"I'm still here."
"He didn't pick up for me either."
Rory sighed. "Okay. Can you keep trying to get a hold of Finn and Steph? I'll call you if I hear anything."
"Okay."
Rory turned worried blue eyes to those of her mother. "I don't know what to do. He's not picking up his cell phone and he's not picking up at home. I have no idea where he could be."
"Breathe," Lorelai advised. "Try the cell phone again."
Rory obediently dialled the number.
"What?!"
Rory physically stumbled back from the fire in Logan's tone. "Merry Christmas," she tried tentatively.
There was silence for a moment. "Ace?"
To Rory's ears, his voice had changed almost completely. "Hey."
"Hey."
Rory worried her bottom lip in between her teeth. "You had words with your mom?"
Logan groaned. "Why does Honour have such a big mouth? So now what, you're babysitting me?"
Rory took the bitter tone in stride. "She said you just left. She was worried. All she said was that you had words with your mother."
"She's got a big mouth."
Rory took in a deep breath. "Do I need to leave you alone? I mean, I know I don't usually and usually I push and push until you spill your guts but quite frankly right now you're a little terrifying to talk to even on the phone which makes me feel sorry for the people around you because they must be so scared and if you get yourself killed I'm going to be so incredibly mad at you—"
"Whoa, Rory, slow down."
She heard him chuckle slightly as he spoke and allowed a little bit of relief to wash over her. "She was worried and called me so I got worried," she told him softly. "No babysitting."
"It was nothing, Ace. Don't worry about it."
Rory sighed, looking down at the snow-covered porch. She knew it was something, he wouldn't have left if it wasn't. He'd been so good at sharing, so good at talking to her about things that bothered him. She wanted to scream at him for closing off so suddenly. "I just…"
"I know."
And she was struck with the sudden realization that he did understand. It was an odd revelation to come to at that particular time, but she realized that he knew she only wanted to help, that she had helped in the past and yet this he felt was something he had to do on his own. She managed a small smile, even though he couldn't see it. "You'd tell me?"
"If I understood what just happened, you'd know, Ace."
She was placated for now. "Merry Christmas," she tried again, much stronger and slightly happier.
"Merry Christmas," he replied, voice warmer.
She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. "D'you want to come here?"
"Sorry?"
"Do you want to come here?" she repeated. "I'm in Stars Hollow with my parents. We were just about to start opening presents when Honour called."
"It's your family, Ace, I couldn't step in on that."
"You wouldn't be," she reassured him, both out of a need to see him alive and the knowledge that her crazy family and crazy town would probably do wonders on his dampened spirit. "Honour usually comes down for dinner anyway."
He was silent for a moment. "I do have something for you."
The smile that blossomed over Rory's face was huge and genuine. "Really? I have something for you too."
"Well how about that?"
She chewed her lip again. "So you'll come?" She'd meant for the question to be casual and winced when it came out much more hopeful than she'd intended.
He chuckled. "Now?"
"I'd feel better if I could see you," she admitted. "Honour's got me good and spooked."
"I'm okay," he tried to reassure her.
"You're angry," she countered softly, not an accusation but a statement of fact.
"Yeah, I'm angry," he acknowledged, "But I'm not going to have this conversation with you while I'm angry. Can I get directions?"
Rory quickly rattled off directions including exits and turns, not bothering to try and remember the back routes so he wasn't seen in town.
"I'll be there soon then," he promised. "I left Hartford ten minutes ago."
It gave her a better understanding of where he was and she took comfort in the fact that she didn't have to ask. "Good."
"I'll see you in a bit."
"Don't hang up."
"Ace, I'm fine. I can't stay on the phone and drive or I could die."
She gave him credit for that. "I should probably call Honour back anyway and let her know I've found you. She's going to be so mad at you when she shows up tonight."
"But that will give me more than enough of a buffer with your family plus Sophie. I can probably forestall the inevitable yelling match at least a couple of hours."
Rory chuckled. "I highly doubt that. Honour's been around my family enough to learn that appearances don't matter to my family. She'll make a scene if she thinks it's necessary."
"You make a very good point. Okay, I'm really hanging up now. I promise I won't do something stupid."
Rory smiled slightly. "So long as you promise."
"I promise."
"Okay."
There was a pause. "I miss you too."
After she closed the phone at the sound of the dial tone and stared at it for a few minutes. It bothered her that something could set him off so completely that he'd leave the house like that. Honour had been nice enough to mention it had to so with his mother. As a result, Rory knew it had to do with his choice of lifestyle involving the fairer sex. Thus, Rory assumed it was his mother's disapproval of her coming through, she was just unsure as to how it was manifesting itself.
She flipped open her phone and hit three on her speed dial.
"You found him?"
"I did," Rory answered, keeping her responses simple.
"He's okay? He's not dead? He hasn't killed anyone? I'm going to throttle him when I get my hands on him."
Rory chuckled. "He's fine, Honour and he hasn't killed anyone. In fact, he's on his way here."
"Here?"
"Yeah, Honour. Stars Hollow."
"Why is he on his way to Stars Hollow?"
"Because I asked him to come."
"To Stars Hollow?"
"Yes."
"You asked him to come down to Stars Hollow."
"Yes."
"And he's on his way now."
"Yes."
"And he's okay."
"Other than angry, yes."
"And he didn't call me? He didn't call anyone to say he was okay?"
"No."
"He's dead."
"I'd rather you not kill him."
"I'll be down for dinner."
"Okay."
"See you."
"Bye."
Rory shook her head as she searched through her phone book for Colin's number before hitting send and relaying the message to Logan's friend. Once that was done she sat down on the front step, dropping her head in her hands. This was getting too dramatic for her, she was starting to freak out.
"Everything okay?"
Rory looked up at her mother with a small smile. "Yeah. You're okay with an extra one for dinner, right?"
"Honour hasn't been an extra place in years."
"Not Honour," Rory responded with a shake of her head.
"Not Honour?"
"That whole panic attack? Apparently Christmas at the Huntzbergers fell apart pretty quickly. Logan stormed out and Honour didn't know where he went."
Lorelai nodded in understanding. "Logan's joining us."
"It's okay, right? I mean, it sounds like it's okay to him and Colin said it was okay…"
"Rory, what's going on?" Lorelai knew her daughter better than anyone in the world and though she hadn't launched into full rambling mode, Lorelai could sense it coming. Rory rambled most when she was nervous or when she had something to hide.
Rory shrugged. "I don't think I ever really realized how lucky I was… you know, to have the family we do."
Lorelai nodded. "Did he tell you why he was so upset?"
"He didn't have to. By this point, I can tell by the parent what happened."
"So what happened?" Lorelai prodded.
"He talked to his mom."
"Which means?"
"It was about me."
"Ah, the hating Thumper."
And the dam burst. "Why does she hate Thumper? I don't understand. I've never done anything wrong. I went to Yale, I come from the Gilmores and the Haydens. I'm more society than half of the women she's been pushing on Logan for years. Why doesn't she like me?"
Lorelai felt her heart crack. Rory was her little girl, her first baby, her best friend. Lorelai had escaped the world of Hartford society to get away from the hell that was her parents' world and Rory had allowed herself to get sucked back into it. Sure, Lorelai was well aware Rory played in the world much better than she did, but sometimes Lorelai wished Rory had been brought up in the harsh cold that Hartford inevitably consisted of. "Why does it matter?"
"Because she's his mom."
"And I'm sure he's explained exactly what he thinks of his mother, hon. You weren't brought up in that world. You don't know how cruel that world can truly be and how hard it is to fight against it. What matters is that he wants you. Not what his mother or father think, but what he thinks."
And in true cliché, romance movie fashion, Logan's car rolled into the driveway and stopped. When he stepped out, she could see the rigid posture of his shoulders, feel the tension radiating off his shoulders. But when his eyes met hers she felt the world melt away for an instant, leaving her with a rush of warmth and the knowledge that being here settled him just that bit.
She hadn't realized she was moving until her arms wrapped around his neck and her body impacted his. "I'm glad you're okay."
Logan's arms had wrapped automatically around her waist, holding her warmth close. "I promised I was fine."
"Seeing is believing. Now come on, you have to see the coolest tree in the world. I'll tell you all the stories about the ornaments and even point out the few that Honour made with Kitty and Sophie last year."
Logan grinned as he followed his girlfriend into her childhood home. Maybe this Christmas could be salvaged after all.
Logan had kept Rory's gift back. He wanted to give it to her when it was just the two of them and he hadn't had the chance to sweep her away just yet. Between the hell Honour had given him for just disappearing and Kitty and Sophie high on sugar, not only had Logan been overwhelmed with the obvious love and caring in the house, Rory had been everywhere and anywhere. Logan had been pleasantly surprised by his love of the family chaos throughout the house.
But now that Sophie and Kitty were asleep in Kitty's room, Honour and Lorelai were making up the beds in the spare bedrooms, and Christopher had been left to clean up the living room after Honour's gift extravaganza, Logan knew Rory had a minute to spare for him. He found her outside with her requisite cup of coffee all bundled up.
"You really love the snow, don't you?"
Rory glanced up at him, her face completely content. "Just reflecting and the house gets a little crazy."
"Even with everyone asleep?" he asked, taking the seat beside her on the bench.
"It's quiet now, while everyone gets set up, but we still have to watch all the Christmas classics without the kids so we can mock them and Honour and I usually have our own little gift exchange because we've been friends for so long…"
Logan grinned. He'd just given her the perfect opening. "Speaking of exchanging Christmas gifts." He held out the long, thin, wrapped box he'd tucked securely in the inside pocket of his jacket. He'd taken it with him to his parents with the intention of popping by Rory's home the next morning after waking up from his inevitable hangover. This, he thought, is so much better.
Rory took the box delicately, her other hand still holding her coffee. "Logan, you didn't have to."
He let his grin soften to a smile, then slip into a smirk. "I did, and you know it." At the glare she sent him he kissed her cheek and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "But I wanted to. Merry Christmas."
She handed him her coffee with a warning to keep it safe before delicately untying the bow and pulling the paper off. The box underneath was black velvet and she grinned. "I was expecting it to be blue."
He shook his head with a smile. "No offence, Ace, but finding something that screams 'Rory' at Tiffany's is next to impossible." That was the excuse he was going to use, or, well, was going to try and use until she raised an eyebrow at him and he knew that she wasn't going to take his excuses.
"Every girl loves Tiffany's."
"I'll keep it in mind," Logan promised. "You're not like the others, and getting you something from Tiffany's would make you like other women I've been with."
Rory flipped open the lid and gasped. It may not have been a Tiffany's diamond, but a) Rory knew that any diamond from Logan was bound to be real and flawless and b) it was gorgeous. "Logan," she breathed. "This is…"
If she was going to look like that every single time he gave her something, he'd do it more often. "Your Christmas present," he finished for her.
"Its beautiful."
The simple, single diamond on a white gold chain had caught Logan's eye even before Rory had shown up at his door with the idea for a movie night. He'd known it was for Rory, but never had a reason to give it to her. Christmas was the perfect occasion. "You like it?"
She looked up at him with a smile that could power a country. "I love it."
Logan was surprised she didn't argue with him over the price or necessity of the gift. "Good."
"But…"
"Ace," he groaned.
"It's beautiful, Logan, it really is, but my gift for you is nowhere close to this and I really—"
"Rory, no. That necklace is yours. I'm sure that whatever you have for me is perfect." Here was the protest he'd been expecting. Logan had wanted something that spoke of Rory, that catered to her tastes. Those tastes were more simplistic, not because they had to be, but because that wasn't the way Logan knew Rory had been raised.
Setting her coffee to the side, he took the box from her, removing the necklace and unclasping it. "C'mon, Ace."
Her lips curled in a smile as she turned, lifting up the hair she'd left long that day. She felt his fingers brush against her skin, moving the back of her coat out of the way so he could re-attach the clasp. His hands drifted to her shoulders once the metal rested against her skin and Rory felt the usual heat of his touch swamp her system. A shiver shook through her system as he pressed a kiss just behind her ear.
"Logan, my family's inside," she murmured, no longer aware of the freezing cold around the outside, even as she turned with the pressure of his hands.
He undid her coat swiftly, parting it and holding his hands on her hips. He looked her from head to waist, taking in the way the diamond glinted against her porcelain skin. Kissing her softly he pulled back, his smile now that of a child. "Now where's mine?"
It took Rory a minute to understand what she was talking about, but she laughed when she did. "Come on, it's inside."
Logan followed her into the house and then to her room and couldn't stop himself from commenting. "You know, maybe this present is better given when we're not under your parents' roof?"
It got a laugh out of Rory. "We won't be doing that under my parents' roof," Rory swore, "And especially not with both Kitty and Sophie here. But your present is in here. I'll have you know it took me forever to find you something. You're an impossible man to shop for, Huntzberger."
It took Logan substantially less time to take the festive Christmas paper off of the rectangular object and even for the man who could have conceivably anything he wanted, this took the cake. "Where on earth did you find this?"
Rory blushed. It had taken her weeks and weeks of debate and conversations with Honour to figure out what to get him for Christmas. Eventually, the book she'd finally decided on had been a complete fluke sighting. She'd been in one of her favourite old bookstores, a little hole in the wall in SoHo when she'd come across it and remembered that one of the big debates between Sophie and Logan had involved Charles Dickens. The first edition Tale of Two Cities had all but jumped out at her. "My bookstore."
He raised an eyebrow, his fingers tracing over the title and author on the leather-bound cover. "Your bookstore?"
Rory smiled as she stood in front of him, the book the only object separating them. "It's a little place in SoHo I stumbled across. You wouldn't know about it if you weren't looking for it. It's sandwiched in between to of the hipper stores."
"I love Dickens."
She blushed. "I know you love Dickens. You and Sophie have the same taste in literature."
"Ace, this is… wow."
"I'm glad you like it."
"Like it, I love it. This tops my gift for sure." Before Rory could protest to his comment, he leaned forward and kissed her softly. "Thank you."
"Merry Christmas, Logan."
"Merry Christmas to you too, Ace."