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.
He woke up, heading pounding. His entire body hurt. At first, he thought he was in a hospital by how much he'd hurt. Had he jumped off another cliff? He didn't remember it. Was he too drunk to remember jumping off a cliff? When he opened his eyes, he was bombarded by the sunlight which made his head pound even more. He definitely knew he had a major hangover. Slowly, it started coming back to him. The punch, passing out, boats, the party, Ace.
He rolled over, facing away from the sun and window, pulling a pillow over his head. The airconditioner was too loud. He could hear talking in the hallway. Hell, even his own breathing was pissing him off. With every breath, his head pounded and his stomach churned. God, this was the worst hangover in the world. How did Ace survive this? How did anybody survive this?
Just thinking hurt his head. Oh god. He sat up, looking at the time. Before he could even process what time it was, his stomach churned again, sending him darting to the bathroom to empty its contents. Every heave made him even more nauseous as he continued to vomit until it was dry heaves. He was knelt on the ground, head bent over the toilet as one hand supported him off the tank. This was not fun at all. He heard the door open, not looking at the visitor, but he knew who it was.
"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 was shaking and knew he probably looked like shit. 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. Eighteen hours? That was a lifetime! He could have spent that with Ace or getting to know the people who helped raise her. Instead, he was passed out. "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." He smiled, laying back. He loved when she got excited over small things like making Michel bring the food up.
"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. He focused on her face, on her expressions more than anything. She was so animated compared to anybody else he'd been with. It let him inside her head a little bit more.
"Just wedding planning with my mom. What do you think of a spring wedding? I'm thinking March fifteenth." He smiled up at her. Her and her mom could plan the most elaborate get-togethers in the world if they were given just a few hours. He had learned this over the years and the birthdays and the anniversaries.
"It sounds perfect. What else did you guys figure out?" As she went into the details that her mom and her planned out. He could see the excitement in her eyes and on her face. He was happy she was able to plan this with her mom with minimal interference from her grandmother. This was her wedding, not her grandmother's.
"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." If she hadn't suggested a small ceremony, he would have.
"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. He was worried she was going to run, bolt, leave with no looking back at the thought of being in the same room as most of his family. But, he had also hoped she said no. It would be one less thing to deal with, but he still wished they could just send them a wedding announcement rather than telling them in person.
"Saturday works. So, do we have an idea of when we're moving?" He thought of the next big project which started at the beginning of the next month and then of how long it would take to relocate. Given that a place to live was already lined up if they accepted, he figured it wouldn't take too horribly long. But at the same time, he didn't want to think about that all right now. He was with Ace, and all the other stuff could wait a little while longer.
"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. Logan felt slightly sorry for the man, but at the same time, Michel knew what he was getting into when Ace was there.
"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." Bacon, tacos, and stir-fry? All of those made him even more nauseous, and he was expected to eat them together? He didn't even like stir-fry for the most part. It was usually too salty or mushy. But, once he started eating the combination, he couldn't stop until it was finished - even getting annoyed that Ace was stealing his bacon. When he was finished, he saw the bottle of aspirin sitting next to the plate.
"You weren't kidding. That somehow settled my stomach, and now I'm gonna have to tell Finn." Finn had mastered the art of drinking, but never the art of a hangover - which led him to drink more in order to evade the hangover, which in turn led to him being drunk most of the time. "So, you cried on the bathroom floor?" he asked. Ever since he was told that, he wanted to know the story behind it.
"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. He sat there, before saying anything.
"I'm sorry, Rory. I never wanted you to feel like I didn't like you." He hated himself for that. He hated the fact that she questioned herself. It wasn't anything she'd done. It was all on him and not wanting commitment - not wanting to end up like his father.
"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. It wasn't the same now. Back then, he made her feel inadequate. Back then, he knew she was something special and he made her feel like shit. "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, knowing fully well he wasn't fit to drive."I'll get the bags if you get the car."
When she left, he grabbed the bags and went downstairs. Ace was already gone when he walked up to Lorelai.
"I wanted to apologize. I just found out about Ace and Ms. Patty's punch and you finding her on the bathroom floor. I never meant to hurt her." Lorelai smiled at him before walking around the counter and standing in front of him. She and Ace shared most of their facial expressions, and he could see a familiar one showing up. Respect.
"You've proven me wrong, Logan. You've proven that you really love my daughter, and as much as I disliked you to begin with, you've grown on me. Just keep her happy." He nodded before walking to the car and getting in.
"I love you," he told her as she parked the car in the garage. He saw her smile.
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, and he could see her expressions change. When he'd seen it, he could imagine them together there. He could see what their study would look like, or her helping him cook - doing simple things because they both knew the extent of Ace's culinary abilities. 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 wasn't expecting a reaction like that. He was expecting the cautiousness to show. He was expecting pro-con lists and bickering about him spending that kind of money.
"So, when do we are we going to move?" she finally asked.
"I was hoping within the month." They needed to be somewhat settled when his next project started. He couldn't be unpacking while trying to deal with business deals and meetings. He knew it was a lot to ask of her, and he knew it was short notice, but it was the most practical for him. But was what was good for him good for her?
"We can start packing after Saturday's dinner," she suggested. He really wasn't expecting this kind of reaction. He wasn't expecting her to follow him so blindly. There had been time for her to think about it since he mentioned it, but had she really gone over it? Had she realized how far away from home she was going to be? How far away from her mom and the town that had grown to love her? Was he forcing her across the country? Despite all these questions and concerns, he replied with an honest response.
"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. It pissed Logan off to know that Emily was more focused on society's view of the wedding rather than what her granddaughter wanted.
"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 made him uneasy. He wasn't ready to face his parents, to face his mother in particular. Mitchum had grown to respect Ace, but he didn't think Shira ever would.
"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. It never would be that easy. There were formalities that came with the territory of bringing somebody into the Huntzberger family.
"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. He smiled, knowing his sister was the only sane one in the family other than himself.
"Logan, Rory! You might want to rip the bandaid off," she told them. He knew what this was about, and he knew it was going to be a tough conversation. He knew Honour had told them he and Ace were coming, and his family had a knack for knowing engagement announcements long before the announcement was made. As they walked in, he could hear Mitchum and Shira arguing. Occasionally, Elias would join in with his own banter.
"Mom, Dad, look who I found," Honour called out, leading them into the living room. When they entered, Shira and Mitchum were standing in front of the sofa, Elias in his armchair. All three seemed to be high-strung. "Rory!" Shira called out, embracing her in what might be considered a hug. He could see how uncomfortable Ace was considering her history with his mother. "How are you, dear?"
"I'm doing well, Shira, thank you." Elias looked at her like he was studying her. He didn't know what to think, to be honest.
"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!" He couldn't believe it! He had a feeling that's what they were arguing about, but he wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt.
"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, but it didn't help. Other than his father, they had met her less than a handful of times. He couldn't understand why they were so quick to judge, but at the same time he could. He knew they were looking out for their own reputation. To them, she was a scandal that the Haydens had distanced themselves from. Hell, most people didn't even know she came from society. To them, that wasn't right or proper or fit for their family. But it was fit for his family. It was fit for him and her, and at that point that's the only family he cared about. Honour was on his side, that's what mattered.
"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," Ace finally chimed in. He looked at her as she continued. "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 quite frankly, so did Logan. She had stood up to the Huntzbergers, a feat Logan could barely even attempt let alone succeed at.
"I don't know who you think you are," Elias retorted. Ace 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 he 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." He didn't know what he had done to deserve an amazing woman like her, someone who successfully put the Huntzbergers in their place and knocked them off that damn pedestal.