The following day the papers were filled with the news about the marriage of Logan Huntzberger to Rory Gilmore. There were a few pictures of the couple from the previous evening and a few papers had obviously been planning for the 'after the wedding' articles for a while as they talked about them being college sweethearts and rehashed their years of 'friendship' before they decided to become a couple again. Mention was made about Logan's new role in HPG and Rory's upcoming book and many were happy to see what the couple would do next. For those closest to the couple, they were thrilled at the way the couple had not only settled into marriage but also parenthood and hoped for another addition soon. HPG had also released a small statement with an overview of the wedding.
For some of those that were on the outside of the couple looking in, the news of the marriage was not met with happiness.
Jess Mariano could not stop seething as he looked at the photo splashed across the screen in front of him. He knew that there was an HPG gala the previous evening and he was up all-night thinking about what could possibly be going on at what was considered a must attend event. According to gossip, the pricks' new role at daddy's company was going to be announced. Knowing that the playboy already had Rory, had her child, and on top of that would soon be one of the most influential men in media infuriated him. If that ass hadn't been on the scene when he tried to get Rory back during college, or if Rory hadn't been so hung up on him for years later, if he hadn't knocked Rory up, Jess would have had a chance but now the prick had everything that Jess had ever wanted.
After the engagement announcement, Jess traveled back to Hartford a few times to try and talk to Rory. As soon as he pulled up to the estate, he realized how impossible his endeavor was going to be when he was greeted by a gate and security cameras. It took everything in him not to hit the intercom and ask to speak with Rory but before he could hit the button, Mitchum's threats echoed in his mind. Quickly he drove off, hoping that no one saw him but a few days later he knew that he was caught. Matt, who ran most of the business side, called a meeting and let them know that HPG had reached out to discuss the possibility of a buyout. It seemed that HPG was looking to expand their publishing holdings and diversify more with smaller, independent, holdings. As Matt continued to talk about the possibilities and whether they were even interested, Jess felt the world start to collapse around him.
"Jess," Matt sighed. "We know this might be difficult for you since we all saw the announcement that Rory Gilmore is engaged to Logan Huntzberger…" he trailed off and the other guys and him exchanged looks. "But this could be huge, it could give us the backing to expand." Knowing that he had to be careful about this, especially with his past indiscretions, he had to keep his cool.
In the following weeks things with HPG seemed to come to a halt but when Jess questioned it, it was revealed that HPG had asked to look more into the authors that they had signed and was reviewing the revenue that was generated. Each day he walked on eggshells as he waited for the guys to find out what he had done, about the money that he had taken. With each day that passed he had to examine himself and figure out what possessed him to take that money and the decisions that he made back then, the decisions that he had made about Rory.
Despite the fact he should know better, knew he should try and move on since it was obvious that she had, he couldn't. In his mind she was his, only his. With these thoughts he closed his eyes and started crafting a story… his story with how he wished things were.
The newly minted Lorelai Danes looked around the finished inn. It was perfect and everything she had imagined but she felt like something, really someone, was missing from her life. After much consideration she decided to stick with Danes as her last name. Gilmore was recognizable now with Rory continuously in the public eye with her engagement and a soon to be released book. The last thing she needed was someone to see her name as Lorelai Gilmore and put the pieces together that she was the mother of Rory Gilmore, soon to be Huntzberger. This small town was nothing like Stars Hollow, it didn't have the same togetherness, the same feel of community and the people didn't all worship her, but she was getting used to it. She had managed to hire a chef for the guests and the food was decent but nothing like Sookie's. There was also a small diner, but it was owned by a woman who did not find her amusing in the least. Everything had changed in her life, and she was just trying to take it one day at a time, but she still hoped that Rory would come back to her one day.
Those hopes were shattered as she opened the paper and saw the photo of Rory embracing Logan at the HPG gala the previous evening. As she skimmed the article, tears sprang to her eyes as she read that the couple were wed at a private ceremony hosted in Nantucket and that family and close friends were in attendance. Her daughter was married, and she wasn't even invited, didn't even know anything about it till weeks later, and she had to read about it in the society pages of a newspaper. Knowing that she could have guests appear at any moment she buried the tears and emotions until later that afternoon.
When her receptionist got to work a few hours later, Lorelai immediately went to her 'apartment' that she had built on the lower floor of the inn and pulled out her laptop and googled 'Rory Gilmore'. She barely hit search when article after article populated about the wedding and surprise announcement. There was talk about Logan's new role and even mention of Rory's soon-to-be released book, but all of that was overshadowed by the announcement about how the two had pulled off an intimate wedding weeks prior with no one realizing. Those that were in attendance called the event a fairy tale, a perfect celebration of the love the couple shared. There was talk about how the event was hosted by Emily Gilmore at her Nantucket estate and in attendance were close personal friends of the bride and groom… even Chris and Francine were mentioned along with Logan's father and sister. Her breath caught when she saw a blub about the event being catered by renowned chef Sookie Belleville. She searched for images but the only ones that were pulled up were the ones from the gala the previous evening. Rory looked completely different. She dressed in a gown that was probably worth more than she would make in a year and dripping in diamonds. She and Logan were embracing in a few images, and she noticed that Lane and Paris were also in attendance at the event. It seemed that everyone was happy for the couple but all she felt was bitterness that her daughter had turned her back on her. Looking at photo after photo and reading every article that she found, she knew her daughter had turned her back on not only her but how she was raised. She didn't know this woman, didn't want to know this woman and from that moment she vowed that her daughter was dead to her.
In the weeks following the announcement, the couple settled into a more public profile. Rory rejoined the DAR; they attended a few events that were expected due to the season and most importantly they finalized plans on Rory's book tour that would start after the New Year. While it was going to be hard for her to be on the road again, she knew she needed to do this and Richard as well as the nanny would be traveling with her. The plan was for her to only tour some of the major cities, New York, D.C, Nashville, Atlanta, LA and Houston. They had worked the schedule so that Logan would be accompanying her for most of it. While she signed autographs and did interviews, he would be visiting HPG holdings and looking at a few that the company were thinking about acquiring. It was going to be a busy two months, but the couple were thankful that they would be able to be together for the majority of it. Since the couple had reunited, they had not spent an evening apart and they didn't want to be separated for an extended time now.
Christmas Eve arrived, and the couple spent the evening alone in the house. They had given the staff off from the 22rd until the 2nd of January so that they could enjoy a break. Emily was in town but had decided to stay with Francine to give the couple privacy for their first Christmas as a family. The couple made cookies and Richard giggled as his parents ended up covered in flour. After they cleaned up the mess, they enjoyed a dinner of paella for the adults and rice with chicken for Ritchie followed by hot chocolate, cookies and Christmas movies. Richard barely made it through The Santa Claus before he was passed out and after the movie was done, Logan took him to bed and Rory got the presents out from Santa and when Logan came back down, they got everything else organized before sitting down to watch It's a Wonderful Life, they didn't make it far into the movie before Logan started rubbing her leg, his hand inching slowly up until it rested on her inner thigh, Rory's breath caught in anticipation. When she couldn't handle the wait any longer, she adjusted slightly, making his hand move till it was right by her core. He gave an amused laugh, she gave a frustrated huff, and soon she was straddling him, the movie forgotten.
Christmas morning started with a wake-up from Ritchie, the little boy babbling over the monitor. As Rory went to get their son, Logan freshened up and then took Ritchie for Rory to do the same. They were thankful that morning that Ritchie didn't fully understand Christmas, so they stopped by the kitchen, gave him a bottle and then placed some cinnamon rolls in the oven to bake as well as a few breakfast casseroles that Livy had prepared from them to serve for the guests that they knew would be arriving soon. After Ritchie finished his bottle, the family made their way to the living room and Ritchie squealed as soon as he saw the new toys that Santa had brought. Armed with coffee, Logan and Rory watched as Ritchie energetically banged on a toy that looked like an alligator that played songs and lit up when he hit the buttons. Logan joined him on the floor Rory took tons of pictures. Santa had brought a few other small toys, but they were all forgotten in favor of this one.
It wasn't long until the bell rang, and Rory greeted Emily, Francine, Chris and Gigi entered armed with bags of gifts. They were followed by Mitchum, Honor, Josh and their eight-year-old daughter, Grace and five-year-old son Grayson. After they finished eating the group moved to the living room where they opened gifts. Logan had gotten their son a collection of Roald Dahl books as well as stuffed animals that were dressed up as the main characters in the book, like a stuffed bear in a purple velvet coat, large gold bow tie as well as the bright red top hat, the Fox, from Fantastic Mr. Fox. Rory had also gone with the book theme and had gotten Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass with a collection of stuffed animals from the rabbit to the Queen on Hearts. Rory had previously told Emily and Francine what she had gotten Ritchie and the rest of the family followed suit to add more books to Ritchie's collection. Chris gifted the Harry Potter series, with an Owl and Lion stuffed animal, Francine got the Lyle the Crocodile Book series with a giant stuffed crocodile, Emily had gone with the Peter Rabbit collection as well as a collection of stuffed rabbits dressed as the characters, Honor selected Paddington the Bear with matching stuffed animals, Mitchum choose Peter Pan with matching stuffed animals and Gigi had gone with the Shel Silverstein book collection, but instead of stuffed animals, she had gotten Richard a wooden tree top activity center that he could move littles balls around, or try to fit pieces together and as soon as he saw this the musical alligator was forgotten about. Of course, they had also gotten presents that Richard could play with now, like stuffed balls for each sport, a scooter and countless other things, more than he could possibly play with. But it was Mitchums gift that shocked Logan the most. Mitchum had gotten a chatter telephone for Ritchie and then told them all about how Logan would trail after him when he was a child and babble into the phone like he had often seen his father do.
Honor's kids weren't forgotten, and Grace received a variety of clothes, books, age-appropriate jewelry and art supplies, and Greyson received more Lego's, STEM building kits and dinosaur items than he could imagine.
Hours later Luke stood awkwardly in front of the door, his arms filled with boxes, as April tried not to laugh and pressed the bell. April had gone to Stars Hollow for the holiday and it was her that convinced Luke to close the diner early and come to Rory's. Even though they had spent time together since everything happened, he felt strange intruding on the holiday. When Rory had invited him for Thanksgiving, he begged off mentioning that he was needed at the diner but today April pressed him to attend.
"Luke!" Rory exclaimed as she opened the door and embraced the man before welcoming April. "Come it! Everyone is in the living room." Logan joined them at the door and helped Luke with the box as Rory took their coats.
"Umm… I brought some pie," Luke muttered and then quickly walked back out to the truck only to return a few moments later with another large box filled with pies. "The house looks nice," Luke commented as he looked around the place. Rory had gone all out with decorations from the real garlands that wrapped around the banister and framed the doors, giving the home a pine scent, the floral arrangements that were artistically placed around the home and most of all it seemed homey and not what he remembered from years past when he visited.
"It did turn out well," she replied as led him to the kitchen where the caterer was busy with dinner. "We gave all the staff off for the holidays but was able to hire June for the evening," Rory stated. "And from the smell it is going to be amazing," she complimented, and the young woman gave a small blush. She was in her last year of culinary school in New York and one of her teachers was a close friend of Livy and it was that connection that got her the job, a job that could open more doors for her after she graduated.
"Dinner should be in about an hour," June stated and looked curiously at the box that was placed on the counter.
"These are pies," Rory beamed. "Luke kept me fed growing up and these were used as a bribe sometimes to get me to eat healthier. Now let's go join everyone else!"
Luke looked on in amazement at the scene in front of him. Years ago, he would have never imagined spending a holiday with Chris but here they all were. Chris and Mitchum were on the floor with Greyson building a Lego set, Emily sat with Honor and Francine as they admired a lap quilt that Rory had made for Emily with photos of both Rory with Richard and Emily but also of photos of Emily with little Ritchie. April and Grace sat off to the side as April helped the girl with making some bracelets from the jewelry making kit the girl received. Logan sat with Ritchie as they played with a soft book, Logan's voice barely registering above the slight chaos and Rory stood off to the side captured this moment. In all the years that he had known Rory, he had never seen her as happy as she was at that moment. As he looked around the room, saw all the small changes she and Logan had made to the space, he fully realized that this world, the world Lorelai had taken her from and tried to get her to hate, was where she truly belonged. He found it funny that the world that Lorelai had run from was the same one that her daughter had run to and had found herself.