The rest of the week flew by. On Wednesday Rory had lunch with Paige, as planned. It was a pleasant enough but Rory could tell by the end of the meal that the two of them would not be forging a life-long friendship. More than anything the lunch was like a belated welcome to the department. Paige offered tips and tricks that had helped her through her first several months as a rookie reporter. She also offered some background information on some of their other co-workers. Initially Rory had considered being more than casual office acquaintances with Paige, but then on the walk back to the office Paige started digging for information about Logan and Mitchum making it clear to Rory that Paige only wanted to be friends with her because of her connections to the top. After their lunch Rory planned to remain friendly, but distant as far as Paige was concerned.
By Wednesday evening Rory had submitted the final draft of her small business story to Kevin. Earlier in the day she had completed her interviews for the article when she had interviewed both Luke and her Mother over the phone. He was impressed as usual and told her that he was looking forward to reading her story about health spending accounts versus standard health insurance plans. Rory was well on her way to finishing up that story as well. She'd done all her research. Tomorrow morning she had interviews arranged with a representative from a health insurance provider as well as a billing accountant at a local doctor's office and she also planned to find some random people to get their opinions about their current medical insurance plans. When she returned to the office she hoped to pound out the article and get it turned in before she went home for the day. Maybe Darin would give her Friday off again and she could head home to Stars Hollow on Thursday night. It had been far too long since she had been home and she could finally see the advantage of a town that loved her the way they did. During her high school years at times she found it a little overwhelming how much they thought of her and her mother; but after the last couple of weeks she'd had at work, being shunned and gossiped about, all she wanted was to go home and let them love her for just being the way she was.
It was Thursday afternoon and Rory was just getting into the office after her interviews for the health care story. Rory dropped her things off at her desk before heading up to the sixth floor with several cartons of Chinese food that she planned to share with Logan for lunch. Her path into Logan's office was impeded by a perky red-headed woman who sat behind the secretarial desk just outside Logan's office that had sat empty until today, it appeared.
"Excuse me," the red-head called in a tone, that was far less than polite, after Rory, "you can't just barge into Mr. Huntzberger's office unexpected."
Rory slowed her rapid pace and called behind her, "Actually he is expecting me."
"Well, you need to check in with me first and I will alert him that you are here," the woman said.
"You must be Logan's new secretary," Rory said as nicely as she could muster.
"That's right I just started this morning," the woman said smugly, "My name is Heather."
Rory clenched her teeth, she was already have flashbacks to Amber, Logan's first secretary at the paper in Hartford. "I'm Rory, I'm a reporter in the Lifestyles department."
"I heard some women talking about you in the lunchroom this morning; they didn't think very highly of you," Heather said with an air of superiority.
Unable to keep her cool any longer Rory said, "Well, maybe you should have eavesdropped for a little bit longer so you would have picked up on the fact that Logan is my husband. Now, he is expecting me, so excuse me."
Rory smirked as she walked into Logan's office and found that he'd been listening to the entire exchange quietly from behind his door. "You couldn't have popped your head out and called her off?" Rory asked.
"I meant to, but it was a lot more fun listening to you tell her off," Logan replied.
"You aren't upset that I just lost my cool with your brand new secretary?" Rory asked.
"Not in the least. She's managed to piss off everyone who's come up here to see me today; you're the first one to snap back at her," Logan laughed, "I'm not sure where she gets off thinking she's so important on her first day here."
"Does she remind you of anyone?" Rory asked.
"If you're asking me if she reminds me of Amber, the answer is no," Logan said, "She hasn't made a pass at me yet and my guess is that after the way you tore into her she'll be too afraid to."
"I wasn't that mean to her," Rory said, rolling her eyes.
The couple ate the Chinese in silence for a few minutes before Rory said, "I'm hoping that Darin will give me tomorrow off when I turn my article into him tonight before I leave."
"Oh?" Logan responded, "What are you plans for tomorrow then?"
"I was thinking that if I got tomorrow off I'd head home to Stars Hollow tonight," Rory said, "I haven't been home for awhile and I could stand to spend some time in a place where people actually like me."
"You're going to leave me home alone all weekend?" Logan asked.
"You could always come to Stars Hollow on Friday night after work," Rory suggested hopefully.
"I have so much work I need to do this weekend," Logan said.
"I'm sure we could find somewhere for you to work in Stars Hollow," Rory pleaded.
"I'll think about it," Logan said, "But it might just be best for me to stay home and work."
"You're okay with me going though?" Rory asked.
"What if I said no?" Logan asked.
"I'd go anyway," Rory said.
"So, why are you even asking me?" Logan asked.
"Common courtesy," Rory replied with a grin.
"For the record I think it's a great idea. I was going to suggest it myself since I have so much work to do this weekend," Logan said.
"Are you saying I'm a distraction?" Rory asked.
"That and I don't want you to feel neglected when I spend more time with my laptop than with you," Logan said.
When Rory returned to her desk she got right to work, she didn't want to run the risk of not finishing her article before she left or not being able to turn it into Darin before he left. Before she realized it she'd been working for three hours straight. After a quick bathroom break and a stop by the coffee pot Rory returned to her desk and finished up her article after another forty-five minutes of work. She saved the file to the un-published stories drive, printed a copy and headed into Darin's office.
"I've been expecting you," Darin said when she knocked on the doorframe, "We're going to have to start giving you more stories so that we can keep you busy five days a week."
"I just worked really hard to get both my stories finished by today. I was hoping to get Friday off again," she admitted sheepishly.
"Big weekend plans?" Darin asked.
"I was actually planning on heading home for the weekend," Rory said.
"And home is where exactly?" Darin prompted.
"Stars Hollow, Connecticut," Rory said, "I was raised there."
"I suppose after the last couple of weeks here you could stand for some of the comforts of home," Darin said.
"That I could," Rory agreed.
Rory took a seat as he read through her story, when he'd finished he said, "I don't know how you do it, but I can never find a single way that you could improve your article. I've made it like a mission to find something you could add; but I'm not sure you're ever going to present me with that chance."
"Well, keep looking, I'm sure it'll happen," Rory said.
"You're too modest," Darin said.
"Well, thanks," Rory said, "How about this…until you find fault with any of my articles I continue to get Fridays off."
"I'll take that bet, but I'm a little concerned that I'll never see you in the office on Fridays," Darin said, "Enjoy your weekend."
After gathering her things from her cube she went up to the sixth floor to see if Logan was ready to head home. When she reached the secretary desk Heather was just putting on her coat to leave, "Is he in?" Rory asked motioning to Logan's office.
"Yes he is, go right in," Heather said quietly.
"Thank you," Rory said.
"I'm terribly sorry about before," Heather said meekly, "I had no idea who you were."
"I shouldn't have snapped at you," Rory replied, "I've had a rough week and took it out on the wrong person. I'm sorry."
"Thanks," Heather said quietly.
When she entered Logan's office he looked up from his work and said, "Sometimes you're too nice for your own good."
"She didn't deserve for me to snap at her on her first day," Rory said, "Even if her attitude was a little over the top."
"If it makes you feel better the attitude disappeared after your little confrontation with her earlier," Logan said, "She's been nicer than nice to everyone else that come to see me today."
"I'm heading home to pack," Rory said, "I'm hoping you want to come home and see me off?"
"There is nothing I'd like better," Logan said hoping that she meant more than a quick kiss good-bye, "Why don't you go and get started on your packing. I have a few more things to attend to here and I'll be home shortly."
When Rory arrived home she packed her bag in record time wanting extra time to prepare for Logan's arrival. Most of the time when they made love it was completely spontaneous leaving her no time to light candles and slip into some lingerie that he'd appreciate. Clearly they didn't need the mood enhancers to enjoy themselves together; but it did offer a different, enjoyable element to their relations. Rory found several candles in the bathroom which she lit and placed around the room. From a dresser drawer Rory selected a pale pink satin nightgown and returned to the bathroom where she stripped out of her clothes and slipped it on. Quickly she combed her long hair before going into the kitchen and pouring two glasses of wine. One glass she left on the table in the entry way with a note that read, "Drink this and meet me in the bedroom." The other glass she took with her and drank slowly as she waited for him on their bed.
Back at the office Logan was saving his files and preparing to shut down his computer when Heather appeared in his doorway. "I was about to head out; do you need anything else, sir?"
"No, thank you," Logan said cordially.
Heather said, "See you tomorrow then," as she turned and started to walk away. Having another thought she turned back around and said, "I'm sorry about the thing with your wife earlier; I didn't realize who she was."
"No real harm done," Logan said, "But here's the thing; as my secretary you reflect on me. You need to be sure that you are treating everyone here, not just my wife and father, with respect. Yes, part of your job is to act as a filter for my guests and phone calls but you need to be able to handle those tasks with some grace and poise. Most of the people who stopped to visit me today commented on the way they were treated by you."
"How did they said I was treating them?" Heather asked, trying to sound innocent.
"I'm not convinced that you aren't aware of how you acted today but I'll spell it out for you. You acted as if working as my secretary made you a very important person, which it doesn't. You also acted as if working for me gave you license to treat my employees as rudely as you wanted to," Logan explained, "I will give you the benefit of the doubt since today is your first day; but if things continue this way you will shortly find yourself fired."
"Did you wife put you up to this?" Heather asked, "Is she a little jealous of your new secretary maybe?"
Logan couldn't believe the gall of this woman, "Hardly," he scoffed, "Rory knows that she is the only woman in my world. She is far too smart and beautiful to feel threatened by a mere secretary."
"We'll see about that," Heather said under her breath as she turned and left.
Logan slipped some files into his briefcase and closed to door to his office behind him. Still unable to understand or believe his luck with secretaries he made a split decision to stop by Helen Jennings office and ask her to tell Heather not to bother to show up for work here ever again; he was sure that there was already more than enough evidence against her to qualify her firing.
When Logan finally reached home, an hour and a half after Rory had arrived home, he found the note and the wine on the table. He quickly gulped his wine before jogging down the hall to their bedroom while loosening his tie. When he reached the bedroom he found an empty wine glass on the bedside table and a pale pink satin nightgown laying in a pile near the closet. Confused Logan wandered into the bathroom and found a note from Rory that read, "I got tired of waiting and headed out. Call me on my cell." Disappointed that yet another one of his secretaries had managed to get come between them Logan made his second split decision of the day.
Despite her excitement at spending time at home with her Mom for the weekend Rory's spirits were a little down. She hated the way she'd left things between herself and Logan. The further she got from New York the worse she felt about choosing to leave without getting to say good-bye. She couldn't have waited just a little bit longer? The fact that he hadn't called her yet only continued to make her feel worse. She wasn't sure if she should assume that he was still at the office and that was why he hadn't called or if he was too upset with her to bother calling. As she pulled into driveway behind her Mother's Jeep her spirits rose slightly when she saw her Mother bound happily out of the house to greet her.
"What are you doing here?" Lorelai gushed.
"I have tomorrow off and I really needed a weekend at home," Rory explained.
"You picked the perfect weekend," Lorelai said, "But I bet you already knew that the Firelight Festival was this weekend, didn't you?"
"I didn't realize," Rory said.
"You didn't notice the huge banners advertising it as you drove into town?" Lorelai asked skeptically.
"I'm slightly distracted," Rory admitted.
"Tell Mommy all about it," Lorelai said as she helped carry Rory's bags into the house.
After telling her mother about the announcement she'd been forced to make earlier in the week, Logan's new secretary and leaving town without saying good-bye to her husband Rory found herself settled onto the couch with her Mother and a heaping pile of junk food.
"So, he hasn't called you yet?" Lorelai asked.
"No," Rory said, "But I guess I don't blame him. It wasn't very nice of me to leave without saying good-bye."
"I'm sure that's not why he hasn't called," Lorelai said, "How long did he expect you to wait; he knew that you were planning to head out of town."
"I don't know," Rory said glumly.
"Let's watch some mock able movies, that always cheers you up," Lorelai suggested.
"It's a worth a try," Rory agreed.
Halfway through one of the idiotic sequels to the cheerleading movie 'Bring it On,' Rory stood up and said, "I think I'm just going to go to bed."
"Okay, good-night kid," Lorelai said, "I'm sure things will seem better in the morning."
Rory hauled her bags into her old room and dumped them on the floor at the end of the bed. Sadly she settled at the end of the mattress and half-heartedly riffled though her bag for her pajamas. When she found them she quickly pulled them on before turning off the light and climbing under the covers. Angrily she wiped away the tears she felt running from her eyes; this whole mess was her own fault, she had no right to feel sorry for herself.
Meanwhile Lorelai had turned off the movie and slipped quietly out onto the porch. She sat on the porch swing and waited barely more than ten minutes before a black Town Car pulled up and Logan climbed out. After pulling his bags from the trunk he joined Lorelai on the porch.
"Were you waiting for me?" He asked.
"I knew you'd turn up," Lorelai said confidently.
"How?" Logan asked.
"Just a feeling," Lorelai said, "She went to bed about fifteen minutes ago; but the chances that she's actually sleeping and not crying are pretty slim."
"Why would she be crying?" Logan asked.
"She feels bad about leaving before you got home and the fact that you didn't call has her convinced that you're either really upset with her or still at the office," Lorelai explained.
"It's a good thing I'm here to convince her otherwise then," Logan said, "She's in her old room?"
"Yes she is, right off the kitchen," Lorelai confirmed, "Will you be here for breakfast tomorrow morning?"
"I will unless she kicks me out," Logan said, "I'll have to spend some time working, but if she'll have me, I plan to spend the whole weekend here with her."
"That sounds nice," Lorelai said as she pulled the door open for him, "Just try to keep it down in there."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Logan replied with a smirk.
"You just keep pretending that," Lorelai said as she headed up the stairs, "I'll just plan to listen to my iPod rather loudly for the next hour."
Logan shook his head over the casualness with which Lorelai could discuss her daughter's sex life. Logan quietly opened the door and after entering, closed it behind him. Looking at his wife's form huddled beneath the blankets he could tell that she wasn't sleeping; but merely pretending to be. At the end of the bed he stripped down to his boxers and undershirt. Carefully lifting the covers at her back he was about to climb in with her when she wearily said, "Mom, I'm fine; you can go back to your own bed."
"Ace, I'm sure your Mom will be happy to hear that you're fine; but she's upstairs," Logan said.
"What are you doing here?" Rory asked after she'd rolled over and shifted to make room for Logan in the small bed.
"Spending the weekend with my wife," Logan responded. He watched tears gather in her eyes but rather than discuss the ways they had disappointed each other and themselves today he tenderly kissed the tears away before beginning to kiss her slowly and softly. She responded and quickly the kiss gained heat and passion. Rory pulled Logan's shirt over his head and brought her lips to his chest. He moaned loudly and whispered, "Your pink nightgown is in my bag if you want it."
"Do you really think we need it?" Rory asked as she slid a hand into his boxer shorts.
"Absolutely not," he gasped at her touch. His hands found their way under her shirt and before long she was moaning in pleasure.
As if suddenly aware of the noise she was making Rory pushed his hands away and said, "My Mom…"
"Your Mom was waiting for me on the front porch when I arrived and intended to go upstairs and listen to hour iPod loudly for the next hour or so after she sent me in here," Logan said.
"Did she know you were coming?" Rory asked.
"I didn't tell; she just said that she knew that I'd come," Logan said.
Reassured and ready to resume their activities Rory pulled her shirt over her head before reaching under the covers to yank Logan's boxers off. He reciprocated, pulling off her panties as well. For a few minutes their hands roamed each other's naked skin until his fingers found their way to her most sensitive area, at which point she laid back to enjoy the magic his fingers worked. When he'd driven her to climax he quit and shifted so that he was hovering above her. She granted him access and together they came together.
In the afterglow as they lay wrapped up in one another, they finally got around to talking. "I thought you had just a few more things to wrap up at the office," Rory said, "But I waited at home for you for an hour and a half. What happened?"
"I got into it with Heather," Logan said, "We ended up talking about how I expected her to treat my employees and anyone else who is coming to see me in my office. It was like she didn't think that she'd done anything wrong and in the end she suggested to me that I was reprimanding her because you were jealous of her and asked me to have a talk with her. When she finally left I went to Helen's office and asked her to fire her, effective immediately."
"She's done?" Rory asked in shock.
"She's done. I'm done dealing with women like her. And I'm so tempted to make another job offer to Barbara. But maybe instead we just won't consider hiring anyone into that position who hasn't been a secretary for less than twenty years. After that many years of experience they're no longer kidding themselves about how important they think they are," Logan explained.
"Are you headed back to New York in the morning?" Rory asked.
"No, I'm here for the entire weekend. I have work with me that I'll need to spend some time on; but I want to be with you," Logan said.
Suddenly remembering Rory said, "Your first Firelight Festival! I'm so glad you decided to join me."
"How could I not when I got home and see what I'd missed out on," Logan said, "It was very cruel of you to leave your nightgown out for me to see."
"I wanted you to see it and feel bad; I was pretty upset when I left," Rory said, "But by the time I got here I was just sad and I wished that I'd just waited for you."
"Your Mom told me when I got here how bad you were feeling," Logan said.
"I'm sorry," Rory said,
"Me too," Logan responded as he drew her closer into his embrace.
The next morning the couple awoke to Lorelai swearing loudly as she quickly retreated from their bedroom. Too startled to go back to sleep they rolled out of bed and dressed before emerging into the kitchen.
"Mom, what was that all about? You knew we were sleeping in there," Rory demanded.
"I had no idea you'd sleep naked at someone else's house," Lorelai accused.
"I used to live here remember?" Rory pointed out.
"So, you didn't sleep naked then," Lorelai said, "Did you?"
"No I didn't. We were naked because we fell asleep after we did what you implied to my husband we could go ahead and do because you'd be listening to your loud iPod," Rory explained, "What were you doing in there anyway."
"I wanted to wake you up so we could all go have breakfast at Luke's," Lorelai informed them, "But I'm not sure that I'm going to be able to look either of you in the eyes ever again."
"Oh, stop being a drama queen," Rory said to her mother with a grin, "It's about time I got you back. Do you know how many times I caught you making out with your dates?"
"Catching me making out is a lot different than me catching you in bed, naked with your husband," Lorelai said.
"Maybe," Rory said as she turned to Logan and asked, "Do you have anything to add to this debate?"
"Leave me out of this," he pleaded as a blush colored his face.
"Logan, are you blushing. I don't think I've ever seen you blush. Look Mom, Logan's blushing," Rory said excitedly.
"Well, he should be," Lorelai said with a grin.
Feeling the need to defend himself Logan said, "All I have to say is that at least all you caught us doing was sleeping."
At this comment Rory blushed and Lorelai yelled, "I don't need that mental image in my head. Get it out, get it out!"
The walk to Luke's was eventful as Lorelai continue to tease the couple during the periods of silence between Rory being greeted by townsfolk who she also introduced Logan to. When they finally reached the diner they seated themselves at an empty table and waited for Luke to come take their orders. Logan skimmed the menu for a full five minutes before asking, "Don't you two need menus?"
"Are you kidding?" Rory asked, "I ate at least two meals a day here while I was growing up."
"Hey," Luke said simply when he approached the table, "Rory, Logan; you two in town for the weekend?"
"Yep," Rory said happily.
"Ready to order?" Luke asked.
"Chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream, and coffee," Lorelai said automatically.
"I'll have the same," Rory said.
"Please tell me that you have the sense to eat better than these two," Luke said to Logan.
"I do," Logan replied, "I'll have a ham and cheese omelet and whole wheat toast, unbuttered."
"Coffee?" Luke asked him.
"Actually I'll take some orange juice if you've got it," Logan said.
After a leisurely breakfast Lorelai and Logan headed to the Inn. Lorelai had a meeting with a linen supplier at the Inn and had offered to let Logan use the extra office to get some work done in. The three of them had agreed to meet back at the diner for dinner before heading to the Festival tonight. Rory had a leisurely day planned of wandering the town and visiting with friends.
Rory ended up spending most of the day with Lane and the babies. It had been ages since they'd spent time together. Between Rory's busy career in the city and Lane's new motherhood, they just hadn't had time to see each other.
"Are you enjoying being a mother?" Rory asked Lane at one point.
"I wasn't sure I would; but it is amazing," Lane gushed, "No matter what your other loves and priorities in life are when a baby, or in my case babies, arrive your whole focus in life shifts."
"Do you find yourself resenting the babies for taking your focus away from music?" Rory asked.
"No," Lane said, "When the babies were born I fell in love with them immediately and I couldn't imagine thinking anything was more important than them. Why all the baby related questions? Are you and Logan thinking about having kids soon?"
"Logan got baby fever as soon as Honor got pregnant. I'm not ready yet though. I just want him all to myself for a while longer. Not to mention that I want to get to a certain place in my career before we take that step," Rory explained.
"What place?" Lane asked.
"I'm hoping to one day be a columnist at the paper. A columnist position would allow me to work from home," Rory said.
"That would be nice," Lane said, "It would give you a nice balance of family and career."
"Yeah," Rory said distractedly as a sleeping baby Janis who Rory was holding in her lap grasped one of Rory's fingers in a chubby little hand. Rory's heart skipped a beat and wondered if this is how it would be when she and Logan one day had children of their own.
Rory turned up late for dinner having gotten distracted while buying books at the local bookstore. When she arrived fifteen minutes late with a bag of books weighing nearly thirty pounds she found a burger and fries waiting for her.
"Well, I know what you did today," Logan said, gesturing to her bag of books.
"I only did that in the last hour. Most of the day I spent with Lane and the babies," Rory said defensively.
"Just think how many more books she would have found to buy had she spent more than just one hour there," Lorelai told Logan.
"It's a scary thought," Logan said.
"What did you guys do?" Rory asked.
"I had a meeting with a linen supplier, fought with Michel about whether or not his dogs are allowed in the lobby and talked Sookie out of making today's menu themed entirely around campfire foods in honor of the festival tonight," Lorelai rattled off.
"I looked over a whole lot of section layouts for this weekend's papers," Logan said, "and I had a phone conference with Darin and my father."
"My boss Darin?" Rory asked.
"Yes," Logan said, "Your boss Darin."
"What about?" Rory asked.
"You," Logan replied firmly, "Darin feels that your talent shouldn't be squandered in a section like Lifestyles. He knows that we generally place rookie reporters in less important sections of the paper to start with, but he feels that you are such a strong reporter that we may want to consider moving you up the ranks early."
"I've only been working for him for two weeks," Rory protested.
"I know, but he's absolutely right," Logan said, "Lifestyles is not a place for someone with your writing talent. Each of the five stories you wrote in the last two weeks were phenomenal; we need writers like you covering the big stories."
"So, what's the plan?" Rory asked.
"We're going to keep you in Lifestyles for the moment but under Darin's supervision we're going to have you start writing stories for some of the other sections," Logan said.
"Why not just move her to another section now?" Lorelai asked.
"Well, the answer to that is really two-fold. One part is that we want Rory to write for a few sections before we determine which is the best fit for her. The other part is that we are afraid of the backlash that might come from the other co-workers if she are shuttled into a new section after just a couple of weeks," Logan rationalized.
"You don't want the other employees thinking that she's getting preferential treatment because of her connection to you and your father," Lorelai clarified.
"Exactly," Logan said, "But we also don't want to waste what she clearly has an abundance of talent for."
The trio finished their meal before dragging Luke with them out to the Festival.
"So, what exactly is the point of this festival?" Logan asked as they walked toward the center of town.
"My point exactly," Luke said grumpily.
"I wasn't making a point; I was actually asking," Logan clarified.
"Well, there really isn't a point. This town makes a big deal out of everything," Luke explained.
"If we get there in time you can hear Miss Patty tell the story," Rory said, urging Logan to hurry up.
When they reached the town square where the ceremonial bonfire was already burning brightly Miss Patty was just about to start her story. "This, ladies and gentlemen, is the story of true love. A beautiful girl from one county; a handsome boy from another. They meet and they fall in love. Separated by distance and by parents who did not approve of the union, the young couple dreamed of a day that they could be together. They wrote each other beautiful letters. Letters of longing and passion. Letters full of promises and plans for the future. Soon the separation proved too much for either one of them to bear. So, one night, cold and black with no light to guide them, they both snuck out of their homes and ran away as fast as they could. It was so dark out that they were both soon lost and it seemed as if they would never find each other. Finally, the girl dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her lovely face. 'Oh, my love. Where are you? How will I find you?' Suddenly, a band of stars appeared in the sky. These stars shone so brightly they lit up the entire countryside. The girl jumped to her feet and followed the path of the stars until finally she found herself standing right where the town gazebo is today. And there waiting for her was her one true love, who had also been led here by the blanket of friendly stars. And that, my friends, is the story of how Stars Hollow came to be, and why we celebrate that fateful night every year at about this time." A smattering of applause erupted at the close of the story and Miss Patty took a deep bow.
"And just think, we got engaged in that very gazebo," Logan whispered.
"I know," Rory grinned at him.
"What is Founders Day Party Punch?" Logan asked, reading it off a sign attached to a card table where Miss Patty and Babbette were sitting.
"Probably the most toxic alcoholic beverage known to man," Rory told him.
"Seriously?" Logan asked, "Do you want some?"
"No, that stuff would knock me out so fast," Rory said, "But feel free if you're interested."
Logan wandered toward the table to get a cup of the punch before returning to the group, "I asked about the recipe and they just laughed at me," he said.
"Not surprising," Lorelai responded, "Remember when you, Paris and Lane got wasted on that punch when they served at the town museum?"
"That's a story I'd like to hear," Logan said interestedly.
"I'll tell you all about it later," Rory replied as she dragged him off toward the gazebo, intending to make him forget the whole thing.
The couple made their way up the stairs an took a seat on one of the benches in the empty gazebo. Logan wrapped his arms around her and together they sat lost in their own thoughts about the momentous occasion they'd shared here.
"Would you do it all over again knowing what you know now?" Logan asked.
"In a heartbeat," Rory said.
"Really, even with everything we went through to get where we are today? The disowning, the elopement, the second wedding, the psychotic secretaries… and everything?" Logan asked again.
"Really, I love you and we're meant to be together," Rory said, "Wouldn't you marry me all over again?"
"Of course I would," Logan replied, "I just wanted to be sure that we were on the same page.
"Forever and always," Rory whispered.
"Forever and always," Logan repeated as she pulled her closer to him for a kiss.
Author's Note: This just might be my longest chapter to date and at the moment I'm feeling pretty proud of it. There are still so many things in the works in this story…I am excited just thinking about all of it. Please, please, please review, it really does motivate me to update that much more quickly. And as always, leave suggestions if you have them!
Upon rereading this before I post it, I have remembered that the Firelight Festival wasn't until like Dec., because it was three months after Rory's birthday, which is in October. Call it creative license…Rory's birthday is coming up in one of the next few chapters.