A/N: To be honest, I thought writing this kind of story would be easier than it is turning out to be, however, I'm loving every minute of it. I've always liked this kind of challenge. I hope you guys enjoy, and leave reviews if you would like. Thanks
Logan felt Ace practically jump out of bed, so he half opened his eyes hoping she was still there. Maybe she had realized she shouldn't have said yes. Maybe she realized how big of a mistake she made. Obviously, he didn't think it was either of those, but Ace. God, he wished he knew how her mind worked even a fraction of the time.
"I'm sorry, go back to sleep," she said softly, running her hands through his hair. He smiled, still half-asleep, but sat up anyway. "It's early. Go back to bed," she told him again.
"I'll get the coffee," he said, pulling on his boxers and walking out of the bedroom. He knew that whatever was bothering her wasn't going to be fixed easily, but coffee was always a good option. He walked over to the cabinet, pulling the coffee can out. He eyed the Poptarts sitting next to the coffee and figured 'why not' if it meant Ace could be a little bit happier despite whatever was going on in that head of hers.
It didn't seem to take long for the coffee to brew and the Poptarts to toast. Maybe it was because he fell back asleep for a few minutes leaning on the counter. He jolted back awake when he heard the water in the shower shut off. Grabbing a mug out of the cabinet and pouring the coffee, he looked at the ring box he'd left on the counter before they'd left for her graduation. He didn't take it with him because he knew that if he did, he would have asked her right then and there. And that was not anywhere near what was suitable for his Ace. She was the kind of girl who didn't need fancy proposals or a million people around. She just needed them - nobody else - to get that experience.
He felt fingers trail down his back, and only then did he realize that it stung that a son of a bitch. The pain made him tense a little bit, but he realized it was Ace tracing her marks from the night before. That knowledge let him relax just a little bit. He grabbed the coffee and turned to face her.
"How'd you sleep?" he asked, handing her the mug. He watched her sniff the steam, getting all the foreplay she needed from what she thought was the elixir of life. Then, she took a drink.
"Like a baby. I don't know how I couldn't after that amazing night," she responded, before taking another drink. He could feel his cheeks burn, and her eyes stare at him - all of him. He heard her chuckle softly.
"It was pretty amazing," he said, leaning down kissing her gently before kissing her neck. Her eyes fluttered shut and he saw her knuckles turn white."You said yes," he then murmured as he pulled away, almost to himself, but also to remind her a little bit.
"I did say yes," she replied. Both of them smiled as they realized what this really meant.
"Do you want your ring now, or do you want a proper proposal?" He knew when asked about when and where he asked her, the true answer would be in bed after mind-blowing sex. He didn't want her to have to lie about it, so he wanted to give her an option to do a 'public redo.' In other words, they'd know the truth, but people and society could know the reenactment without knowing it was a reenactment.
"You could always ask me again, maybe at the party in Stars Hollow." He knew her family was important, so he nodded in agreement to the plan."But can I see it now, since you already asked and I already answered?" He chuckled, grabbing the blue, velvet box off the counter he'd been leaning on when she walked in.
He opened the box for her to see. It was a simple band with diamonds along the center with a larger diamond with two sapphires on each side. "I saw it when I was in London. It screamed Rory, so I knew I had to get it even if I wasn't going to propose for a while. Try it on," he insisted, taking the ring out of the box and slipping it on her finger. He didn't think he'd ever seen Ace speechless, but here it was. She just gawked."It reminded me of your eyes," he said softly as she examined the jewelry on her hand.
"Logan," she said, looking up at him. He smiled, glad she didn't regret it. Glad she loved the ring. Glad she loved him. She set the coffee down - a feat he knew Gilmores usually were unable to perform - and kissed him. Her hands cupping either side of his face. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her there a little longer.
"Love you, Ace," he said as they pulled away, looking into each other's eyes.
"I love you too, Logan. So what food did you make?" she asked, causing him to laugh.
"Just the Gilmore usual. Poptart. Although you should really eat something healthier," he reprimanded yet again. Since they'd been living together he'd tried to get her to cut back on the caffeine and sugar, apparently not realizing the gravity of the situation he was putting himself in by trying to take away her sustenance. She just shook her head.
"There will be a day that you see me craving fruit, today is not that day," she admitted before taking a bite out of the Poptart he handed her. He wasn't sure what that meant and he didn't know if that was a good or bad thing. He decided against any details for the moment.
"I'm not gonna ask," he told her before sitting down at the table. "I do have something to tell you." She nodded, sitting next to him. "I got the job in California - if I want it. I even did a little bit of house slash apartment hunting when I was out there. Ace, you'd love it. The house I was looking at has an avocado tree and I know how much you love guacamole."
"I do love guacamole," she agreed. He didn't know how to contain himself. This was a big opportunity. One that his father had no part in. One that would finally get him the out he'd always been looking for when it came to the family business.
"And it's not that far from San Francisco. I could imagine us sitting at Golden Gate Park or getting amazing coffee at this little place I found. Ace, you would love it," he told her again. He knew that if she gave it a chance, they could make it home. Really home. As much as he loved this apartment and everything they'd turned it into, he wanted a place they could truly call theirs.
"I don't know, Logan," she finally responded, setting the now empty mug down on the table. "That's a huge move." He nodded.
"I'm not going to go if you won't go with me," he said in a reassuring voice, and he knew that was assurance he wasn't going to just up and leave if she decided she didn't want to go. There would be other job opportunites, but no other Ace. "I'll let you think about it, then we can talk about it when you're ready." She nodded, then looked at the ring again. He smiled as she examined her hand again.
"Let's get ready. Emily is expecting us early, and I don't want to disappoint," she finally said, standing and walking into the bedroom. He stood and followed her.
While she tried to figure out what to wear, he changed into a black tux, grabbing the tie off the floor from the night before with a little smirk as he put it on. When she turned to look at him, he saw her recognize the tie and a smile flash across her face before she straightened it for him. Apparently the heir to the Huntzberger fortune did not know how to put a tie on straight.
"I think the royal blue would be suitable. It is Yale's school color after all," he suggested. He knew it was the one she wanted to wear, but he also knew that she scrutinized every decision like Emily would. It was about knee length with a floral lace layer over the solid blue, the lace coming above the solid to form lace sleeves. He'd seen her in it a few times before, and each time, she took his breath away. Now, she took his breath away no matter what she was wearing, but that wasn't the point.
"You're right," she agreed, changing into it as he sat on the bed. "Can you zip me?" She backed up to him and he zipped the back of the dress. He scanned her from head to toe several times before she turned around.
"You look stunning, Ace." He saw her blush as she pinned back some of her hair. Once her hair was pinned, she turned to the mirror, him standing next to her. His arm wrapped around her waist. He watched her look them both over, her eyes always darting back to the ring. She was stuck with him now, and she knew it.
"You can always move it to the other hand and say it was a gift from Luke for your graduation, or from your dad," he whispered in her ear, kissing her cheek after.
"Yeah, but it's not true. I don't want to say it's something it's not. It's my engagement ring, Logan." He nodded. He didn't want her lying about it either, but he tried to give her options to keep it on.
"Well, you can always keep it on until we get there and I can keep it for safekeeping, then you can put it back on when we leave." She smiled.
"I like that idea." She turned to face him, kissing him again. "We should get going before we're exceedingly late." He grabbed his keys and the ring box as she grabbed her purse. She was amazing, drop dead gorgeous, and most importantly she was his.
During the entire drive to Hartford, one hand was on her leg. Occasionally, he'd glance over to see her eye the ring, but usually she was too deep in thought. He knew she hated these events, knew how much she hated the silent criticism. He also knew the criticism waned a little when he was with her, all anybody could focus on was what society would see as 'the perfect match.'
"Hey, Ace," Logan said, pulling her from the thoughts after parking in front of Emily and Richard's home. "It's gonna be fine, and then we'll get to go home and forget this ever happened." He gave her knee another gentle squeeze, and she nodded. She leaned over and kissed him before handing the ring back. A part of his heart sank when she handed it back, but he knew there was a good reason. She wasn't leaving him, things between them were fine. "You'll get it back after this, I promise."
"Rory!" Emily cheered when the maid answered the door. "The guest of honor has arrived, and so has young Logan Huntzberger!" He smiled, knowing Emily was very fond of the two. Despite having found out of the pre-marital relations and living arrangement during Rory's break from Yale and the following months after.
He hated being passed around like a cheap party favor, but he knew he had to do whatever was asked so that they could just go home. Through the course of the night, he could feel Ace lean into him more and more, and he had to loop an arm around her waist to keep her standing half the time. He knew this exhausted her, as it did him, but she wasn't as used to it as he was. He smiled, remembering their first meeting in this house. Her break-up with Dean, their party in the pool house, Finn's Passion of the Christ, followed by returning her back to Stars Hollow wasted. But here they were just a couple years later in a much different setting.
"It was a lovely party, Emily, but Rory and I have an early day tomorrow," he told the two, knowing it was more than time to leave and get Ace leaned on him a little less, able to walk for herself, but he still saw her eyes drifting shut every few minutes. He should have supplied more coffee before they'd left for the party.
"That's alright, Logan. Have a safe trip home." he smiled before collecting their things and walking to the car. Before they reached, he stopped her and kissed her.
"Do you want it back now?" he whispered in her ear. He saw her face light up at the mention, and he took the blue box out of his pocket. He played with it a moment before opening it. Her hand reached out and took the ring, and he helped slide it onto her finger like he should have this morning. Once it was back in its rightful place, he kissed her softly, her hands on his face and his sitting on her waist. "It's time to go home."
"Oh my god!" they heard come from behind them. The only voice that could belong to would be Emily Gilmore. "He just proposed!"