A/N: Sorry about the delay in the update. It's kind of hard to find time to write on vacation when you're schedule is actually hectic to an extent. Imagine a hectic schedule on vacation! Anyway, despite this wonderful break from reality, here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy.
She woke up the next morning with Logan facing away from her, still out like a light. She knew he was going to wake up feeling like shit, but she also knew he had been warned about Ms. Patty's punch. Slowly, she stood up, trying not to wake him up. Still in her pajamas, she walked downstairs, seeing her mom at the counter bickering with Michel like always.
"They are not trying to steal the towels, Michel!" she heard her mother say, exasperated. Why did it seem like every time she was here, Michel accused somebody of trying to steal something.
"Well, when they come back and towels are missing yet again, I expect an apology!" he demanded before Lorelai stormed off straight to her daughter.
"The usual?" Rory asked, and her mother just nodded before the two sat down with cups of coffee.
"So, did you like the party?" Rory smiled, knowing the entire town had put in so much time and effort to make it perfect for her.
"Of course I did, Mom," she replied. The two talked gossip for a while longer. Rory enjoyed this, enjoyed being able to have random conversations with her Mom without having to worry about scrutiny or judgement. When she tried to do this with Logan, it wasn't the same. It wasn't her Mom.
"I have some news," she then said, ready to tell her Mom about the upcoming move. She took a deep breath.
"You're pregnant, aren't you?" She gasped. It would be a logical guess, but still!
"No, I'm not pregnant!" she replied. Her mom gave her a look of innocence. "And I won't be pregnant for some time, thank you. We're moving."
"Oh!" was all her mother said for a minute. "New York is amazing. Lots of good coffee, and you're going to have to come visit as often as you can." Rory sighed, not sure of how to break the news to her mom. She did know she couldn't let her believe she was in New York when she wasn't.
"We're not going to New York, Mom. Logan got an offer in California - Palo Alto to be more specific." Her mom's face dropped. Rory hadn't been more than an hour away at a time except for her trip to London with Logan that Christmas. "I already agreed to go with him. There's a lot of amazing opportunities in California." Her mom just sighed.
"I'm gonna miss you like crazy, kid," she finally said. Rory knew that, no doubt in her mind. She'd miss her mom too, but she couldn't make Logan give up this amazing offer just because she wanted a security blanket.
"I'm not leaving yet. We still have to work out the details. Now, onto a more upsetting topic. Friday night dinner," she shuddered at the last three words.
"You've graduated, I think that gets you an out now." If only it worked that way. But, due to Emily's view of the 'proposal' it was now a mandatory night sentence.
"Except she saw what she thought was a proposal, so we have to go and do the formalities." It will definitely be the easier of the two family confrontations considering Emily's enthusiasm. "I'm more nervous about telling his parents though."
"I do remember the story of them saying you weren't good enough. I still want Mitchum's head on a pole for making you doubt yourself like he did." She understood. If it hadn't been for Mitchum and his ridiculous 'review,' her and her mother would have never been estranged for as long as they were - if at all.
"I hate it too, but I love him, and his family is going to be a part of this. And if they aren't happy about our engagement, then screw them! They don't have to be part of our lives if they don't want to be." She knew that wasn't the case. Because Logan was the heir, he'd always have to have some part in the Huntzberger family.
"Oh, hon. If they can't see how amazing you are after you've been together for this long, then they don't deserve to get to realize it. Because you are amazing and smart and funny and the best damn thing that's happened to that boy."
She thought of who Logan was when she met him. She had thought he was a total ass, Colin a little more at the remarks about her chest size. He was hung on some girl, probably couldn't even tell anybody her name. And over the years knowing him, she knew he was drunk when they met. Their second meeting, much worse than their first. He was a complete asshole, trying to help Finn find the redhead that Guinness doesn't work with. By the end of what he still holds was a debate on Marty, bartending, and servitude, she was disgusted by him. Who knew the fifth meeting with Logan Huntzberger would send her head over heels.
Now, he was upstairs, sleeping off a hangover from Ms. Patty's punch and had put a ring on her finger. In that moment, looking at her mother, she really finally realized that it didn't matter what his family thought. No amount of money or bribery or business trips would ever make them stop loving each other. Not everything was about appearances or society, some things were about love - plain and simple.
"You're right," she finally said after her deep thought and realization. "I mean, I hated him at first, and now I can't see my life without him. And I don't care what they think anymore." She knew she was lying to herself. She knew that if they didn't approve, it would sting, but she knew Logan would be there for her no matter what his family thought.
Over the next few hours, Rory and her mom had her wedding practically planned out from flowers to possible venues to food - Sookie joining in their conversation just to sit down. She had a guest list - which included his family but could be easily modified in the case their disapproval made them estranged. Hell, she even had a date set. All that was left was the dress, and the more physical aspects like rings, invitations, acedera.
"I'm gonna go make sure Logan didn't slip into a coma," she said as her mother organized all their written workings into folders with Michel's disapproval of them using his stationery and office supplies.
"It wouldn't be the first time Ms. Patty's punch knocked someone out. You remember Kirk in oh-two." She laughed, remembering how his mother thought he was dying. He woke up three days later not remembering anything.
When she opened the door, Logan wasn't in the room, but she could hear the sounds of somebody getting sick in the bathroom. She knew the feeling all too well, and as she opened the bathroom door, her suspicions were confirmed. There he was, knelt on the ground with his head over the toilet.
"I heard that Luke warned you. I don't think Finn would be able to handle how much you drank," she said. He just groaned as he stood up, washing his mouth out in the sink.
"How long was I out?" he then asked. He looked exhausted and pale. She led him back to the bedroom, sitting him down on the bed as she did the math.
"A good eighteen hours." He just groaned again. "Sookie already has the best hangover food ready for you downstairs. Or I could bring it up for you. Oh! Better yet, I could make Michel bring it up just to make him mad." For the first time, he cracked a smile, laying back.
"So, what've you been up to since I've been out?" She sat next to him, legs crossed as he drew patterns on her legs.
"Just wedding planning with my mom. What do you think of a spring wedding? I'm thinking March fifteenth." He smiled up at her, and she knew that was all the answers she needed.
"It sounds perfect. What else did you guys figure out?" As she went into the details that her mom and her planned out, she couldn't help but notice the look of adoration on his face. She was so excited, things were getting done. And since a majority of it had been planned out, that left little room for Emily to plan anything.
"So, we do have a couple decisions to make sooner than later because we have to get venues booked." He nodded, not saying anything. "I was thinking we could have the ceremony here in Stars Hollow, and then for the reception we could go wherever my grandma wants because I know she'll want everybody from the DAR there, but I want the ceremony to be friends and family."
"That sounds great, Ace. So, we're telling your grandparents on Friday. What about my parents? Honour said they're having her over on Saturday. I know it's close together, but-" She cut him off.
"Saturday works." In all honesty, she wanted to get it out of the way. She needed to know if they were going to be a part of their lives. "So, do we have an idea of when we're moving?" With all this planning that got done, she had to also think around their moving plans. She had to have an idea of when she'd be leaving her mom.
"I'll email the guys on Monday, and we'll go from there. But, right now, where's Michel with that food?" She laughed, picking up the phone and telling her mom their request. Within ten minutes, he came up, grumbling about how he wasn't room service.
"Thank you, Michel!" she practically yelled at him, taking the platter back to the bed. "So, Sookie's hangover remedy consists of everything grease. We've got bacon, tacos, and stir-fry." She saw a look of disgust show on his face, but he ate it all. She'd eaten with her mom, but she'd stolen some of his bacon much to his dismay. Then, to top it all off, they were sent with a bottle of aspirin for the headache she knew was pounding away.
"You weren't kidding. That somehow settled my stomach, and now I'm gonna have to tell Finn." She laughed, knowing Finn's hangovers would be talked about in the history books. "So, you cried on the bathroom floor?" he asked. She had a feeling it would come up eventually.
"Ms. Patty's punch. That should be self-explanatory. While drunk, Paris, Lane, and I were talking about boys - obviously - and I knew I had actual feelings for you, but I knew you wanted it to be casual. So, I get home, wasted, and my mom comes home to me on the bathroom floor crying. 'Why doesn't he like me? What did I do?' The next day, I came to you with an octagon imprint on my face and that was that." She took a deep breath, feeling like she hadn't breathed the entire time. He sat there, before saying anything.
"I'm sorry, Rory." He used her name. The only time he used her name was when it was a serious talk or when they were intimate. "I never wanted you to feel like I didn't like you."
"Logan," she chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "You decided to be my boyfriend, and now you're my fiance. There's no doubt in my mind that you like me - or love me." He shrugged, and she knew he knew it was true. "Now, I say we head home, get your hangover done and over with, and then just you and me tomorrow. How does that sound?"
"Amazing," he responded, standing and swaying a little bit. He steadied himself, but she knew he was not going to drive. "I'll get the bags if you get the car."
"Sounds like a plan," she responded, heading downstairs. She hugged her mom and said her goodbyes as she pulled the car around.
It wasn't that she didn't like the Porsche. She loved it, but she hated driving it. It was Logan's car for a reason. She enjoyed speed limits and automatic cars, and the Porsche was anything but those two requirements. She pulled up and Logan got in, tossing the bags in the back.
"I love you," he told her as she parked the car in the garage. She smiled, ready to finally be home. They could get their plans in order, and get ready to start the moving process. Was she nervous? Of course, but who would she be if she didn't take this chance.
They were in the elevator when he spoke again. "Do you want to get the California details smoothed out?"
"Yeah," she replied as they got off, walking to their apartment. "I wanna see pictures of this avocado tree." They both smiled as he tossed their bags next to the door and sat down on the couch, pulling out his phone. She sat next to him, curling against him.
"It feels like the poolhouse all over again," she told him as he pulled up the pictures.
"Minus you playing blue," he joked. She gently slapped his shoulder before he handed her the phone.
"Two bedroom, two bath, one study, a living room, kitchen, and dining room. Attached garage and an amazing backyard with a patio and avocado tree." She flipped through the pictures, imagining her sitting on the counter as he cooked dinner. Or them in that bedroom together. Or hosting a dinner party on the patio. Everything was perfect for them.
"I love it, Logan," she told him, flipping to the last picture. It was a picture of him standing in front of the door with the keys. "You already bought it?"
"I figured if you said no, I could sell it. And if you said yes, it would already be ours." She cupped his face and kissed him. He always could surprise her in the biggest ways.
"So, when do we are we going to move?" she finally asked.
"I was hoping within the month." Within the month? That was insane, but not unbelievable. He had a job that he had to do and he couldn't keep them waiting, especially if she agreed to go.
"We can start packing after Saturday's dinner," she suggested. She knew it was soon to be packing, but if he wanted to move within the month, then sacrifices had to be made. One of those would be waiting until the last minute to pack. If they did that, they'd forget things or they wouldn't be able to move on time.
"I like that idea," he replied before she turned on the TV and changed to one of the many news channels they watched. The next day was full of wedding details and reservations made for the day, which included calling her mother to get a city permit for the wedding. Which all went over so well with Emily the following day.
"You can't have your wedding in a town square. What will our friends think?" Emily asked. Quite frankly, she didn't care what her grandparents' friends thought. They weren't coming to the wedding. Her grandparents were.
"Grandma. This is my wedding. Not some social event to flaunt. We're allowing you to throw the reception your way except a couple details, but other than that, we are planning this." Emily was flustered, but with Logan's persuasion, began to see her side. It was the Saturday that terrified her.
"If you want, we can just send them a postcard from our honeymoon," Logan told her as they stood outside the door of his parents' home. She wished it was that easy, but they both knew it wasn't. It never would be.
"And you think I hadn't thought of that? Let's get this over with." She rung the doorbell, waiting a couple minutes for the maid to answer the door.
"They get out of line, we're leaving," he told her in a hushed voice as the door opened, revealing Honour. Rory started having flashbacks of the first time they were there and Honour answered. In fact, the last time they were there was for Honour's engagement announcement to their parents.
"Logan, Rory! You might want to rip the bandaid off," she told them. Rory was confused, but Logan looked more annoyed than anything. As they walked in, she could hear Mitchum and Shira arguing. She couldn't make out the details, but it didn't sound pleasant. Occasionally, Elias would join in with his own banter.
"Mom, Dad, look who I found," Honour called out, leading them into the living room. She was still impressed with the decour and the grandeur of the home, but not overwhelming so like the first time. They may have money and power and objects, but they didn't have honest relationships with each other.
"Rory!" Shira called out, embracing her in what might be considered a hug. She reeked of cigarette smoke. "How are you, dear?"
"I'm doing well, Shira, thank you." Elias looked at her like he was studying her. She felt like an animal in a cage.
"What brings you here, Logan?" Mitchum asked. "It's not like you to want to come to dinner with us. Especially since you claim you left Huntzberger Publishing."
"Well, Rory and I have some exciting news," he started before Elias cut him off.
"Son, she is not fit for this family!" Rory looked at Logan who was practically fuming already.
"I don't care that you think that, granddad. What I care about is that I love her and she - for some odd reason - loves me too. Why can't you be happy for us?" Rory squeezed his hand. She knew this was his battle he had to fight. It wasn't hers as much as she wanted it to be. But to an extent, she had to have some handle on the situation because they were engaged and to an extent, it was their battle.
"She doesn't know how to be a proper wife," Shira then chimed in. "She wants to work. That's not right."
"It doesn't matter what you think is right, Shira," Rory finally chimed in. "And there's a choice you have to make. Do you want to be part of our lives or not? Because I know Logan wants you in our lives, even if he's too stubborn to admit it," she looked at him, "but if you don't want to act civil and accept this, then you don't have to be part of our lives. You don't have to be part of your future grandchildren's lives. So, grow up, and decide." Honour looked dumbfounded, and Rory felt proud. She had stood up to the Huntzbergers for the first time and she had liked it.
"I don't know who you think you are," Elias retorted. Rory smiled.
"I'm the one who's marrying Logan." She stood up, Logan following suit. "The wedding is next March. An invitation will be sent, and I do expect to hear whether or not you will be attending. By not attending, you are forfeiting any right to be in our lives." With that, they walked out and she could hear screaming occurring behind the closed door.
"Oh my god, Ace!" Logan said as they stood on the porch. He smiled at her and hugged her. "That was incredible. Standing up to them, something I can't even do half the time." She knew he was right, but she also knew that it had to be done. If Logan wasn't going to do it, she was.