Rory lay in bed Monday morning, not wanting to get out of bed because she knew the day's events would be strenuous. Never had her mother and Shira been able to throw a small nice birthday event; Rory knew even though they were in the middle of no where this would be a big deal. She knew in her family's eyes that this birthday signified that she was no longer a child, she was an adult. Soon she would be expected to enter the world that she had been raised to be a part of. Rory turned and looked out the window wishing that there was a way that she could make her family normal, a way to escape her ultra preppy school, and the social engagements. She knew that this birthday would bring around talks of marriage, of finding the right man when she was in college, basically telling her that in five years she needed to be married.
One room over Logan Huntzburger lay in bed listening to his iPod savoring that last few moments he would have to himself for the rest of the day. He knew, in the same Rory knew, that this was going to be an insane day. With the massive amount of proud parents and grandparents on board it was bound to be one of the most expensive bashes his mother and Lorelei had ever planned. Soon talk of him joining the family business would start to become more and more common, then he'd be at his father's office more and more, then enviably the question would arise of him finding a wife. Not just a wife, but a corporate wife. He sighed quietly to himself; Logan knew it was time to accept the fact that he was no longer a child, but an adult ready to enter the world that was waiting for him.
Rory slipped on her lightweight bathrobe and slippers and slipped quietly out of her room and down the hall to Logan's. She gently knocked on the door and receiving no response pushed the door slightly open. Noticing that he had his eyes closed and his iPod on she lightly shook him.
"Holy shit, oh, hey there birthday girl!" Logan exclaimed.
"Happy birthday Logan." Rory smiled as she sat down on the bed next to him.
"You know what today means don't you?"
"Oh yeah, I know, it's the day of reckoning for all intensive purposes." Rory sighed as she lay down.
"Yup, and our parents are probably toasting to it now, the coming of age of Lorelei Leigh Gilmore Hayden and Logan Elias Monroe Huntzburger."
"Think we could call the chef and have him bring some food down here so we don't have to face the music quite yet?"
"Absolutely Bubbles, exactly what I was thinking." Logan beamed as he picked up the state room phone.
"So when exactly are we telling them?" Shira questioned over breakfast.
"I was personally thinking after lunch or dinner." Christopher replied pouring Lorelei another cup of coffee.
"Might as well do it after dinner so we don't manage to ruin they're entire day." Lorelei mumbled under her breath.
"I agree with Lorelei, no reason to ruin they're entire day." Emily said putting her two cents in.
"Fine, the three of you can have it your way. Richard, Christopher, Straub a round of cards and cigars?" Mitchum said somewhat agitated as he rose from the table.
"What have we done?" Emily asked to no one in particular.
"I wish I knew." Francine sighed.
"We're doing to our children something we would never want done to us." Shira whispered quietly.
"I know, but maybe it will all turn out for the best." Emily said not sounding the least bit convincing.
"I guess that all we can really hope for." Lorelei said pulling out shot glasses, "we need to start early today."
"Lorelei quit being ridiculous and put that bottle away." Emily glared at her daughter. "Oh hell forget it make mine a double."
"Present time!" Lorelei announced as she danced on the deck while Rory and Logan lay in the sun.
"Alright mom," Rory sighed as she reluctantly rose from her tanning session, "should I go change?"
"Ya, both of you go change and meet us in the saloon."
"Here comes the music." Logan smirked as he and Rory walked down to their cabins.
"You're telling me; knock on my door when you're ready."
"Alright, see you in a few minutes."
Rory sighed as she pulled her hair into a loose ponytail, the festivities were beginning and there was nothing to do to stop them. Giving into the emotional intensity she sat on her bed and let herself cry. Rory was exhausted emotionally. To the world her life was wonderful, the envy of so many, she had no right to complain. It wasn't that easy though, having your life planned, having to always be perfect, she was drowning in commitment and responsibility, for once she wanted to be normal, to not cry herself to sleep at night. Quietly Rory opened the window of her cabin and pulled a pack of Marlboros from her suitcase. The rush of nicotine was comforting; it was her one way of rebelling against the world, even if no one knew about her secret habit. It was a weakness and she knew it, but it was a weakness Rory wanted and chose.
"Think I could bum one Bubbles?" Logan asked causing Rory to practically fall of the bed.
"Not if you ever scare me like that again, and lock the damn door."
"Stressed much?"
"Just a little, I'm just dreading the impending afternoon and evening."
"You and be both, but remember at least every year we've gotten through all this together, and this year isn't going to be any different." Logan smiled as he lit his cigarette.
"Ready to go?" Rory asked as she flicked her cigarette into the blue waters below.
"Not really, but we don't have much of a choice now do we? Just let me run and put on some cologne so I don't reek of smoke, you might want to do the whole perfume thing Bubs."
"I am, I am, hurry up, I'm sure they're getting anxious up there."
"Oh look the birthday girl and boy, or should I say woman and man?" Shira squealed as Rory and Logan entered the saloon that had been filled with presents.
"Hi everybody, sorry it took us so long, my hair was being ridiculous." Rory smiled as she took a seat on the sofa opposite all the beaming adults.
"No need for apologies on your birthday." Christopher smiled.
"Well lets get started with the presents shall we?" Francine beamed.
Nearly an hour later Rory and Logan had finally succeeded in unwrapping at the gifts that had been given to them. As usual they both made off like bandits and were already mentally cataloging what they were planning on returning as soon as they got back home.
"Time for the birthday pictures," Emily exclaimed as she pulled out her camera, "Logan, Rory smile . . . oh for heaven's sake look like you know each other won't you?"
"Alright we'll see you all for dinner." Logan smiled as he and Rory cautiously backed out of the room. "Thanks for everything, it was amazing!"
"Yes, thank you so much, you out did yourselves again as usual." Rory said forcing a smile.
"Dinner is at six thirty, please be on time you two!" Shira called after the children as the tripped over each other trying to get away from the room fastest.
"I do believe it is time for our birthday custom." Logan smiled as the entered Rory's room.
"Finally some way to actually celebrate our birthday, what movie is it this year?"
"The classic, the timeless, Ghostbusters!"
"Perfect, much better than your pick two years ago."
"Hey, there is absolutely nothing wrong with James Bond."
"Didn't say that, just not the type of movie I was planning watching on our birthday, but anyways, let's get this thing going so we won't be later for dinner."
"Damnit," Logan exclaimed as his half opened eyes landed on the clock, "Bubbles get up hurry, dinner in ten minutes we fell the fuck asleep like we always do."
"You're kidding, please tell me you're kidding."
"No, I'm defiantly not, I'll be back here in five minutes to get you, and for the love of God please be ready to go."
"I will be, go Huntzburger so I can get dressed though."
"Dinner was amazing, and the cake was sheer perfection." Rory beamed as she slid her chair back from the table.
"Absolutely perfect." Logan said forcing a smile and likewise pushing his chair back.
"Actually, why don't the two of you meet us in the saloon?" Christopher quietly suggested.
"Why?" Rory and Logan asked in unison.
"Logan please, to the study." Shira said straining her words.
"Is everything okay?" Rory questioned as she and Logan prepared to leave.
"Of course angel, just meet us in the saloon please." Lorelei said trying her best to hold back tears.
"Will one of you please tell us what is going on?" Logan asked indignantly as he stared at his and Rory's parents.
"Well it's sort of complicated. . ." Christopher trailed off.
"On the day of your births, certain, um, arrangements were made." Mitchum stumbled.
"The thing to remember here is that we all love the two of you very very much." Shira said glancing at Lorelei.
"Mom, what's wrong," Rory asked slightly panicked, "what do you mean arrangements? Daddy what is going on here?"
"I want you to remember that every adult on this boat has both of your best interests at heart and cares very much about you." Christopher sighed.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Logan shot back.
"Logan you will learn to hold your tongue or speak in a respectful manner." Mitchum chastised his son.
"Rory, sweetie, Logan, honey," Lorelei sighed, "When the two of you were born the families made an agreement." She paused, biting her lip and glancing at the others in the room.
"What do you mean agreement? Come on mom, spit it out it can't be as horrible as you're making it out to be, it's not like you arranged our marriages or something." Rory sighed frustrated with the entire situation.
"Um, well actually . . ." Lorelei started.
"You see what your mother is trying to say . . ." Shira offered but likewise failed.
"Wait, your kidding right? You didn't arrange our marriages did you." Rory said feeling her heart rate sky rocket.
"No of course not Bubbles." Logan said as he hugged Rory. "Right mom? Dad?"
"Well we didn't actually arrange your marriages, we arranged your marriage." Christopher sighed.
"Our marriage!" Rory exclaimed
"What the hell do you mean our marriage?" Logan exclaimed equally as shocked.
"Well the two of you are to be married." Mitchum said forcing a smile. "Would the two of you please sit down? Logan, this is for you to give to Rory when you're ready; I highly suggest you're ready before the end of this trip because the papers are running the announcements this week."
"I can't believe you did this!" Rory shouted tears running down her face as she ran from the room.
"No, I'll go after her." Logan said standing up. "I don't think either one of us wants much of anything to do with any of you. So do us both a favor and leave us the hell alone for the rest of the trip, that is unless you need our measurements for wedding attire."
With that Logan ran after Rory, knowing that some how, some way there had to be a way for the two of them get through this together.
Rory flung herself on her bed in tears, hoping beyond hope that Logan would soon appear to comfort her and make her tears cease.
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