A/N: Hi everybody! Sorry for the delay. But I have good news... and a Beta. Well... the aforementioned two is technically one and the same. Anyway... I re posted the first two chapter (improved by non other than 'dcrendi', thanks again, YOU ROCK!) and here comes the (hahaha... not the sun) third chapter.

DISCLAIMER: Not mine.

Chapter 3

The following week went by quite slowly for Rory. It was the least busy week since she started to work at the Times. It was the calm before the storm. Rory might have realized it, but she was happy because the calm meant more time with Ella. So she didn't mind.

On Wednesday Emily called Rory to talk about Rory's upcoming birthday, and the chances of Rory allowing Emily to throw a party. Rory had not been fond of birthday parties given by her grandmother since her 16 th birthday, but she knew all her friends would be there, and sooner or later she would have to go to Hartford, her grandparents loved Ella. No wonder though: it seemed that Ella had magical powers. She managed to charm the DAR ladies with her manners - making Emily proud, and made Richard laugh when she would talk seriously about 'the wild world of preschool' and things she saw on C-SPAN. After all, these parties weren't as bad as they were a few years ago. Emily was protective when it came to her family, and anybody who had a homespun remark had to contend with Emily Gilmore's sharp tongue, so the ladies learnt to hold their own tongues. They had stopped talking about Rory 'following her mother's lead' and about Ella as 'the new scandal', so Rory agreed to go.

On Thursday Rory left her office early, picked up Ella from school, and they went to buy a dress for Rory for the next day's office party, and two matching ones for the birthday party. They spent the whole afternoon chasing the 'perfect dress'. Ella was picky when it came to clothes. Finally they found for Rory a black sleeveless jersey dress with sequin belt, gathered bodice and skirt, and agreed to continue the hunt for the other ones on Sunday with Lorelai.

The next day Ella helped her mother to get dolled up for the party, and she was pleased with the result. Rory was ready to leave when Steph and Colin arrived with a gift bag.

"Stephanie, please tell me that the thing in your hand is not for Ella," said Rory pointing at the gift bag. Steph bit her bottom lip and made an 'I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist...' face, and handed the bag to her niece. The little girl made her way to the couch with Steph and opened her gift. Rory groaned at the sight of a beautiful dress with matching shoes and purse.

"I showed her picture to my wedding dress designer so he would have time to come up with some ideas for the flower girl dress he has to make, and he just adored Ella. The next time I went to the fitting he showed me this dress's sketches and I just couldn't resist... so he made it and dedicated it to Ella. And of course what is a dress without shoes and a purse, the Devil is in the details... I just couldn't help it. But she won't get ice cream after dinner today, I promise..."

Rory just rolled her eyes to Steph's ramble. "She can have ice cream if she wants to; just make sure she goes to bed in time. Don't let her stay up. We have a busy Stars Hollow weekend coming and she is way too ingenious when it comes to extending her bed time. I'll be back in a few hours. I just have to show my face and stay invisible in the same time, which is an art form, so don't even ask how I'm going to do that. I say hi, mingle a little, and then I say bye. DAR parties trained me well. After all I am Emily Gilmore's granddaughter and Lorelai Gilmore's daughter... I'll be back by midnight." With that she hugged Colin and Steph, kissed Ella and shut the door behind her.

"Ella, why don't you put your new things in their place?" asked Steph, and as soon as the girl was out of earshot she turned to Colin. "Do you think we should have told her about Logan? I know it is a big city, but still. He's here now; it's just matter of time until they meet again. I don't want her to get hurt."

"I know what you mean, but Rory is a big girl. She is strong. She can face him. Maybe it would be the best for both of them." said Colin.

"But-"

"But Rory doesn't like surprises, so we will tell her when she comes back." nodded Colin.

----- ------

Rory arrived at the party, grabbed a cocktail, and started to mingle. She talked to all of her bosses and their wives. One and a half hour later she was chatting with an editor from The Wall Street Journal when she heard a familiar male voice.

"Ms. Gilmore, I'm so glad to find you here, Giles, would you excuse us for a minute?" said the man, and his tone made it obvious that it was a command, not a question, so Giles just nodded and left them alone to talk. Rory turned around and she found herself standing in front of a tall blonde man...

"Ms. Gilmore."

"Mr. Huntzberger." Her voice was serious, but there was smile in her eyes.

"I didn't want to interrupt, but I have only a few minutes before Shira returns, she needed to freshen up herself and I wanted to ask when can I see my granddaughter again."

This conversation would have surprised anyone who hadn't met them since Logan's graduation, but things changed between Rory and Mitchum a few years ago. When Mitchum 'crushed' her by telling her she didn't have 'it' at the end of her internship, he made her face reality, he made her think about what she wanted. Those months taught her to fight for what she wanted. It was something she never had to do in her whole life. She never had to stand up for herself before; her mother did that for her. Lorelai intimidated her boyfriends, her headmasters, her teachers. She was ready to fight the whole world when it came to Rory.

Months later, right after Logan's accident she called Mitchum from the hospital and commanded him to visit his son, and on Logan's graduation day she started an argument. Finally she stood up for herself. That was something that Mitchum Huntzberger respected. Then and there he saw the spirit in the girl, and he started to respect her. He was almost disappointed when he found out that her relationship with Logan was over.

Two and a half years later Mitchum Huntzberger and his wife attended a Christmas party in Hartford. He was deep in a conversation when a little girl caught his eye. She had a serious expression on her face as she explained something with flushed cheeks animatedly to a bunch of ladies, and there was a mischievous glint in her eyes that was familiar to Mitchum. He excused himself, and grabbed a soda at the bar and headed towards the little blondie. He approached the group and listened to what the girl said. He was stunned. The girl didn't look older than two, and yet she talked about the bird flu. He greeted the ladies and asked the girl what her takes on hybrid cars was, and much to his surprise the girl started to talk again. The ladies said their polite excuses: this was too much for them. Mitchum offered the girl the soda which she gratefully accepted and they continued their conversation. Five minutes later she started to fidget and Mitchum asked her if something was wrong.

"I would like to go and find my Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom. Will you excuse me, please?"

Mitchum nodded, and seconds later the girl slipped down from the sofa, and was on her way to her mommy. That was the moment Mitchum realized that he didn't know anything about the girl, not even her name. He was intrigued so he got up and went after her.

"Would you like some help? There are a lot of people here. Your Mommy could be anywhere." said Mitchum as he caught up to the girl. She nodded and let Mitchum lift her. "I don't believe we've been introduced, my name is Mitchum."

"My name is Lorelai Blythe Gilmore, but everybody calls me Ella." Mitchum was too busy processing what he just heard to notice Rory in front of him, but Ella spotted her mother.

"Mommy, I need to go to the bathroom, and Mitchum helped me to find you." Rory was speechless. Seeing her daughter in her grandfather's hands was just too much. She extended her hands for Ella and left to the bathroom without a word. A few minutes later when they exited the ladies' room she saw Mitchum waiting for them. By the expression on his face she could tell that there was no way out for her. She had to face Mitchum Huntzberger yet again. She nodded, brought Ella to the kids' room and he followed her. Then they found the library so they could talk without interruption.

"Is she..." Rory nodded 'yes'.

"Does he know?" Another nod.

"Why didn't you?" He wanted to continue, but he couldn't. He didn't understand. Logan fought him because of Rory. Logan yelled at him and Shira because of this girl years ago, and now it turns out that he knows that he has a child, yet he is in London, and definitely not in a relationship with his child's mother. None of that made sense. Rory gave him the Reader's Digest version of her and Logan's argument, and told him to ask Logan if he wanted to know more. They had a long conversation and at the end they were enemies no longer. They both saw each other in a new light, and Ella's existence helped too. Her personality made Mitchum want to see his granddaughter again - to get to know her. She was addictive. He said nothing about paternity test; he just knew without a doubt that the little girl he talked to a few minutes ago was his son's daughter. Shira wasn't happy when she found out about Ella, she didn't acknowledged her as her granddaughter, but Mitchum didn't care. Before Rory and Ella left the party Rory gave Mitchum her number, and Mitchum didn't wait too long to contact her.

After that Christmas Mitchum visited Rory and Ella every time he was in New York, much to Shira's dismay.

Next time he went to London he asked Logan about Rory, and their daughter, but he didn't get an answer. He was about to compel Logan to go back to the States to take care of his daughter, but he suppressed the urge to do so. He had talked about it with Rory, and she made it crystal clear that she didn't want anybody in her life that was forced to participate, so Mitchum didn't do anything, and never mentioned Rory or Ella again. Rory was the one who made him realize that while his intentions weren't bad, the way he acted was.

------

Logan had a busy week. He had to unpack and settle in. He also had to go to his office to get to know the place and his colleagues. He attended meetings and business lunches, visited his sister, his parents and met with Finn, Colin, and Stephanie. His friends wanted to mention Rory, but he dodged the topic expertly. He wasn't ready for that talk yet. There was something that was more important at that moment, something about Mitchum that made him suspicious. He didn't know what had made his father act so un-Mitchum like and that bothered him. His father didn't choose his apartment, he let Logan do that. He didn't tell him what to do and when, he scheduled the appointments: he asked Logan whether he's free to go or not, instead of commanding him to go. He treated Logan as a grown man, and Logan was looking for the catch. He had acted that way for the past three years, but after all Logan lived in London, he thought he could thank the distance for the changes, and he expected things to fall back to their old ways now that he had moved to New York, but it seemed that Mitchum's attitude towards him really changed.

He got an invitation to a party at the Times, and he decided to go. That was a good opportunity to meet the 'enemy'. Everybody who counted in the newspaper business was going to be there. He worked hard in London and he had a name in the business. He wasn't just 'Mitchum Huntzberger's son' anymore, at least in London he wasn't. It was time to show the New York elite that he wasn't just another spoiled, less than talented but rich heir. He was cut out for journalism, and he was ready to show that to the whole world.

Friday evening he got ready and went to the party prepared to fight the first battle. He arrived later than he intended, and was on his way to find his father. He spotted him almost immediately. He was in an animated conversation with a brunette woman who had her back to him. He approached them, and was about to greet his father when he realized who the woman was. Rory turned to leave, and as she did so she ended up facing Logan who stood just a few feet away. Her eyes widened, the blood drained out of her face. She managed to say a weak 'hello' and left as fast as she could.

On her way out thoughts were racing in her head. Why was he in New York? When did he come back? Was he back for good? Did that mean that he wanted contact with them?

Logan stood there glued to the ground, unable to speak, unable to talk. Rory was beautiful. She was more beautiful now than she had been five years ago. He didn't think it was possible, but there was something about her that left him speechless. He couldn't manage to spit out a simple hello. Where was the 'Master and Commander' now? The speed of the time lapse is relative... Girls learn that lesson the first time they step out of their home and have to use the bathroom in a mall... (somehow the time outside the stall seems to pass way slower than inside...) Life taught Logan Huntzberger this in that exact moment. He stood there only for a few seconds before Mitchum shook his hand, but it seemed hours for him.

"What were you doing with her?" he choked out finally.

"We were talking. And now let's find your mother."

"Why would you talk to her?"

"She is the mother of my granddaughter. I wanted to ask her when I can visit them again."

"You? Visit? Them? Why would you do something like that?"

"Because for three years I have known I have a granddaughter, and from time to time I like to spend time with her."

"Go find mom, we are leaving. I want to discuss this with you. You have no right to do what you're doing." hissed Logan. He was beyond angry. How dare his father go behind his back?

Mitchum decided it was better to leave, so the Huntzbergers left the party in less then ten minutes. They went to Logan's new apartment, and the moment they closed the door Logan started to yell.

"We talked. We talked this week. You didn't say a word. Why? Why would you do that? Since when are you playing this little game?"

"Logan. There's no need to yell. We are grown up men. It's a free country. I can talk to anyone I want to. Three years ago I found out at a Christmas party that I have a granddaughter, and then I asked you about her. You avoided the topic; you said it was none of my business. You are the one who didn't want to talk about Rory and her daughter, or be a part of their lives. It was your decision and I respected it, so I didn't mention them again to you. But if you think that you can forbid me to meet with her you are mistaken. I want to see that little girl grow up, and you can not do anything about that. Have I made myself clear?" His voice was calm, yet stern.

Logan stood there speechless again. His father was right. It was his decision not to be a part of his daughter's and Rory's life. His father was right. Everybody tried to talk about Rory to him; he was the one who never listened. 'We are grown up men.' So that was the catch. He made his decisions, he lived his own life and since his father respected his decisions he had no one to blame. For the past three years he was treated like a grown up man, and yet he was so busy rebelling and avoiding his responsibilities that he haven't even noticed. HIS FATHER WAS RIGHT. "Can you please give me her number?" was all Logan could say.

A/N: I know... I know. No Rogan action so far, but that's obviously what's next in the story. I wanted to cover the basics. I mean the relationships, the past... Anyway, R/R.