Gilmore Girls

Uncanny

A/N: I'm not hugely impressed but it's an update at least. I'm tossing up whether to have Rory go home next chapter or have another chapter in Stars Hollow. Let me know what you think. Happy reading! Evie. xx

Summary: The voice on the answering machine. The picture on the entertainment. Both are eerily, uncannily familiar. L/R/T in London.

Disclaimer: I do not own nor am I affiliated with Gilmore Girls in anyway.

Chapter Eighteen

"I thought you were staying with Cass," Rory whispered. She could hear Lorelai plodding around the kitchen, banging around the coffee pot and clanking together the mugs. Rory immediately felt bad for keeping Lorelai up for all of the night and some of the morning but it had been so long since they'd seen each other and they had a lot to catch up on. They had collapsed into bed at around 4am and had been woken by Rory's phone ringing shortly after 8 even though it was only 3am in London. When she'd seen Logan's name on the caller I.D she instinctively knew he was still at the office and had probably waited until he could call her at a reasonable American time. Obviously, a little common factor known as jet-lag hadn't entered his mind.

"I wasn't staying with Cass," he said. "I stayed in a hotel for the first few nights and then I rented a little apartment about five minutes walk from the paper. Why did you think I was staying with Cass?"

"I don't know. The fact that she's your best friend and it's where I would go if my stupid girlfriend kicked me out of my apartment," she answered. She paused for a moment. "Tristan and Cass are staying together. I mean, he was staying with her and now they're together. My ex and my best friend are happy and in love."

"Are you okay with it?" Logan asked. She could practically hear his brow crease in concern. Both with concern for her feelings and concern that it had been the last straw, that she really loved Tristan and not Logan.

"Okay with it?" she asked. "I am fine with it. I'm happy. Logan, I love you."

"I'm glad to hear it," he smiled softly. She smiled too and sighed.

"I'm sorry that I treated you so badly. I didn't handle things well. I've never handled things well and fleeing to the States like this was just plain childish."

"Not really. Going back to your mother has always been your coping mechanism. I just with I had a mother I could flee back too," he replied.

"You could always flee to my mum," she suggested. "I'd like you too come here. I miss you."

"Ace, you know I would but I think it's important you spend some time just you and Lorelai. She's missed you. A lot. But I promise if you need me I'll be on the next flight out and I will definitely be at the airport waiting for you when you come home," he replied.

"But you'll call a lot?" she asked.

"So much you'll get sick of me and wish I wasn't calling," he answered with a small laugh.

"Doubtful," she answered.

"You want to bet?" he asked.

"Alright. You're on," she answered. She heard a yell from the kitchen and a smashing glass. "Crap. Logan, I'd better go. I love you."

"I love you too."

-

"Rory Gilmore, that is not the proper way to come home from a holiday, just springing it on all of us. What if I'd had plans that simply could not be changed? What if Lorelai had things she needed to prepare?" Emily chastised as soon as the door opened. A smile broke on her face, the first true sign of happiness since Richard had died, as she reached out to hug her grand-daughter and pulled her close and hard. "But I am so glad to have you home."

"How have you been, Grandma?" Rory asked softly. Emily rolled her eyes playfully and pushed Rory away.

"I've been fine. Forget about me. I want to hear all about you," Emily sighed. "Turn around and let me have a look at you."

"I don't think I've changed much, Grandma," she replied, laughing a little as her phone began to vibrate.

"Humour an old woman and do it," Emily ordered as Rory fumbled around in her handbag. She flipped it open and smiled. "Logan?"

"Logan," Rory affirmed.

"You may take in your grandfather's office but as soon as you're done, you have to come and twirl for me," Emily said. "Do we have a deal?"

"I believe we do," Rory replied. She quickly trotted off to Richard's study and answered the phone. "I'm in Grandpa's study. It hasn't changed in years. It's still exactly the same. There's even a plate with the crust still in it. I don't think Grandma has even come in since he died."

"I doubt she has," Logan answered. "I don't think she could handle it. When Dad died, they made me go through his desk. You know we weren't close but he was my dad, you know. It was hard. Emily loved Richard more than anyone except possibly for you. It would be devastating for her."

"I hate the idea of her in this big house by herself," Rory sighed. "Is it okay if I ask her to come back to England with me for awhile?"

"Why are you asking me?" Logan asked.

"Oh, I guess I forgot we didn't live together anymore. I don't really have anywhere to live," she suddenly realised.

"Good. You'll move in with me. There's a spare room. She can stay in that," he answered.

"Thank you," she murmured gratefully. "I love that we can do that."

"Do what?" he asked.

"Just start a phone call in the middle of a conversation we weren't even having," she answered.

"I like that too," he said. They grew quiet for a while. "How are you doing there, Ace?"

"It feels like he should still be here," she replied. "I feel like any minute he's going to walk in the room and say 'Rory, I didn't know you were here. What a lovely surprise' and when I ask if I'm in the way, he'll say 'Rory, you are never in the way and you are always welcome in my office' or I'll ask if he has time and he'll say 'Rory, I always have time for you.' It's just wrong."

"I know it is," Logan comforted her.

"It's starting to seem real," she admitted. "I missed the funeral, you know, because I missed the flight. I feel so bad but it kind of gave me the chance to hold onto him for a little bit longer. I mean, he never calls anymore or emails me but it doesn't seem like he's gone. It just seems like he's really busy or whatever. Being here, in his house and in his study, and seeing Grandma… it really happened."

"How is Emily holding up?" Logan asked, warmly. He genuinely liked Emily despite her schemes and concoctions.

"She's putting on a brave face but she looks devastated. Her eyes, Logan, are so sad. I've never seen such sad eyes," Rory sighed. A small tear dripped from nose onto the dark heavy oak desk. She hiccupped a little sob and let the tears flow freely. "I miss him. I want him to come back."

"I miss him too," Logan said. "It's okay to miss him."

"I know," she replied. "Hey, I should go. Grandma's probably waiting for me."

"Okay," he answered. "I'll talk to you tonight."

"My time," she reminded him. "I think my mother will kill you if you call me on your time."

"Your time," he repeated. "Bye, Ace."

She hung up the phone and looked around the room. It really was exactly the same. That was the one thing she could count on in life. Her mother and her grandparents never changing. Richard's study was just one example of it. Things never changed in here. Things never left it, whether it was a business deal or a blurted out confession, it never left. The way things never changed showed the way things never changed outside. Her mother and her grandmother would never leave.

And now, she knew, neither would Logan.

-

"How is Logan doing?" Emily asked.

"He's good. He's great. He was only supposed to be staying in England for three months but he's extending his trip," Rory answered.

"You know, I wasn't surprised when you told me you two were back together. You belong together. I never was fond of that Tristan even if he was Janlan's grandson," Emily continued. "And besides, no-one ever looked at you the way Logan looks at you. You two remind me a little bit of Richard and me."

"Thank you," Rory replied, genuinely touched. "I'm really sorry about the funeral."

"Yes," Emily replied, flashes of hurt and anger crossing her eyes. "Well, there's nothing we can do about that now. It was a lovely service and he would have wanted you there but you couldn't make it and that's that."

"I wanted to come," Rory said.

"I know," Emily said abruptly. When she looked over at Rory and saw that she was genuinely upset, her voice softened. "Would you like to see the Order of Service and the tribute video that was made for him? Kitty O'Flanagan's son put it together. Very talented young man. Did your grandfather proud."

"I've love to see it," Rory replied, a smile crossing her voice. Emily nodded and stood up.

"We should move to the den. I'll ask Greta to bring us some tea. Or perhaps some bourbon is in order," she fussed.

"Bring both," Rory suggested.

"Good idea. I'll meet you in the den," Emily agreed. She walked off and then turned to face Rory. "Is his study the same?"

"Exactly the same," she replied. "Nothing has been touched."

"Good," Emily nodded. "That's exactly how I wanted it left."

"I miss him."

"I miss him too," Emily sighed. She let her face fall and then she brightened up, inch by inch. "We could watch another of my ballroom dancing competitions, if you like."

"Sounds great," Rory smiled. And it really did.