AN: Thanks as always to the lovely and fabulous fulfilled, the bestest beta and handholder in the world.

Chapter 8

"You're not alright - I'm going to find a pharmacy or a doctor who can help you," Rory said firmly, moving to gather up her bag and head out the door.

"Rory, I'll be fine," Logan replied, turning to wipe his dripping nose on a kleenex.

"No, Logan, you're not," she insisted. "You've been barely able to breathe since we got here three days ago, your eyes have been bloodshot as well, and now you've popped a blood vessel in your left eye," she ticked off.

"I did what?" he asked, rubbing the offending eye with his forefinger.

"You broke a blood vessel in your left eye," she repeated, going over to the dresser, picking up one of her compacts, and handing it to him. "Look."

"Oh my God!" he exclaimed, seeing the brilliant red splotch where the white of his eye should have been. "That's grotesque."

"Yes, and I have to look at it," she said in a soft, teasing tone, sitting down next to him on the bed, "and listen to you trying to breathe, and put up with you being miserable, acting like you're fine, but muttering and grousing constantly. You're obviously allergic to something in the air here, probably the horrific pollution, and until you let me find out how to take care of it, you're going to feel wretched," she soothed, rubbing his thigh.

"I don't want to be a burden to you," he replied with a frown, obviously miserable.

"Oh, good grief!" she exclaimed, shaking her head. "This from the guy who wouldn't let me do anything for almost ten days while we were in Africa because my feet might get infected, or I might reinjure them. Last time I checked we were partners here, not burdens to each other."

"I know; I just don't get why I've had this reaction. You're fine, are you taking something?" he asked.

"Just a Claritin a day, that's it," she replied. "The over the counter ones. That seems to be counteracting the effects of the pollution. They weren't joking, I have to say, it really is horrible here. I can breathe, but the air is really thick and strange feeling and smelling, and I'm not sure if it's not a blessing to not be able to breathe.

"Okay, let me make a list of things I know I can get you," she said, scurrying around their room gathering the things she needed to take with her. "There's a drug store a few blocks away; maybe the pharmacist will be able to suggest a doctor for you to go to as well."

"Ace, I'll be…" he started.

"You're miserable," she interrupted. "Just try to relax and let me play Florence Nightingale. I'll be back in a jiff."

"Will you get a nurse's outfit?" he said suggestively. "That might be all kinds of fun!"

"Logan!" she exclaimed. "You've felt like crap for days and now you're hitting on me?"

"I'm not hitting on you," he pouted. "I'm trying to get you to play doctors and nurses with me, the adult version."

"Logan Huntzberger, you are incorrigible," she laughed.

"Guilty as charged, and you love it," he tried to laugh, which dissolved into coughs.

"I'll get you some water," she said, rushing to the kitchen to get a bottle of water out of the refrigerator.

He waited till she had gathered her things and left for the pharmacy to get his cell to call his sister, after talking for a few minutes; he brought up the reason for his call. "I don't know if you remember, but Rory's birthday is weekend after next. She's turning twenty-three," Logan told his sister.

"I do- I have it marked on my calendar," Honor replied. "I was planning on going shopping this weekend for something to give her."

"Actually, I was wondering if you could help me plan a surprise party for her?" he asked.

"Oh, I would love to help plan a party for her!" Honor enthusiastically agreed. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well, since we haven't seen anyone since the wedding, I was thinking of maybe you and Josh, Lorelai and I think it would be alright to invite Luke with her," he started to tick off. "Lane and Zack, if they can afford it; Paris and Doyle, if he, actually they, can get away; Colin, Finn, maybe Rosemary and Juliet. Not too many people, but those that matter. You might call Lorelai, touch base, let her make some suggestions or something, I don't know, include her."

"I'll call her tonight. As for getting everyone there, well, we could use one of the corporate jets, that way transportation is taken care of," she offered. "Lane and Zack, nor anyone else, would have to worry about the cost."

"Do you think Dad will let you have it if he thinks you might be coming to see us?" he questioned. "He has to know by now - there's no way he can't."

"I'll just tell him that Josh and I are going to the Dominican with Whitney and Alain for the weekend, and he'll let us have the plane. Dad can't deny me anything. Everyone can just meet at the airstrip," Honor reasoned. "Actually, that might be a better idea than having everyone go to Mexico City. Go to the Dominican - I can see if we can borrow the de la Ruele's place for the weekend, it's fabulous, and right on the beach. One of the days all of the guys could go to one of their tobacco plantations while the girls go to this great spa I know there. Four days of relaxing, hanging out with friends and family, sun, surf, snorkeling, sailing, dancing to a salsa band in the moonlight. It would be fun - what do you say?"

"I actually think that's a great idea - I'm sure everyone would be up for it," Logan agreed. "I'm just not sure how to convince Rory to go away for a four day weekend."

"I have faith in the persuasive powers of Logan Huntzberger," Honor teased. "Especially when it comes to your wife."

"She does have a very hard time saying no to me," he laughed. "Okay, plan away; we'll see you in the Dominican."

"We'll see you in the Dominican, and please let Rory take care of you - you sound horrible," she admonished.

"I'm beginning to understand why and how Marxism has become more and more popular in Central and South America," Rory commented while eating, a couple of days later.

"Why is that?" Logan asked, taking a bite of his dinner.

"I realize your family, and - well, my grandparents at least - have more money than many small nations," she said, pointing with her fork. "But there are millions and millions of families like my mom and me, mostly living paycheck to paycheck, but who have a good life. The middle class is the engine that drives the US. Here, there are only families like yours and then the extremely poor. There are a few middle class, but not many. There's nothing to work toward really, no hope of bettering your family's lot in life really, if you were born poor."

"Yeah, well the PRI were socialists," he replied, setting down his fork and taking a sip of his drink, "and they didn't exactly offer any sort of opportunity to anyone. They were in charge of the country for almost eighty years, till Vicente Fox's party won. Of course, they were also known for rampant corruption as well, so I guess that's not really an indication of much of anything."

"No, I don't guess it really is," she chuckled. "Oh, and I've been meaning to ask all day," she said, wiping her mouth and setting down her napkin, "you seem to be feeling better - at least you're not sneezing anymore - and you seem to be breathing normally. How's your head?"

"I feel fine, head doesn't hurt, breathing freely, all thanks to Nurse Rory," he smiled, reaching over to run his knuckle down her cheek.

"Hmm, yeah, Nurse Rory did do a very fine job, didn't she?" she asked with a grin. "I think maybe she might want something in return."

"What were you thinking about?" he asked suggestively, reaching over to run his hand up and down her arm.

"I was thinking…" she replied with a coy wink, "maybe…I could get out of dish washing duties for a week. It's so hard on my hands."

"You want me to do dishes for a week?" he guffawed. "I'm sitting here, offering you any manner of inappropriate ways to pay you back for your excellent bedside manner and you want me to do the dishes? Seriously?" he finished with a raised brow.

"Well, I figure, the inappropriate activities you're going to propose somehow you'd offer even if you weren't paying me back for my 'excellent bedside manner,'" she air quoted. "The dishes - those I can't guarantee you'd be willing to do otherwise."

"You are very logical tonight, Mrs. Huntzberger," he chuckled, leaning over to give her a quick peck on the lips. "And you also drive a very hard bargain."

"What can I say? You have very good taste in women," she replied with an arched brow. "I'm going to go take a shower, since I know you've been thinking up kinky ways to repay my medical ministrations; I know you're still going to want to follow through with whatever you've been dreaming up. So, I'll be waiting in the bedroom once you've finished the dishes," she said slyly, flipping her hair, and walking away, swinging her hips.

"I'm just a sex object to you, aren't I?" he called after her.

"Your problem?" she shot back over her shoulder.

"I still don't understand why we needed to come all this way to relax for the weekend," Rory groused as they bounced along on the shell road to the hacienda where they were staying. "We could have gone to Cozumel or Cancun if we wanted to go to the beach for the weekend. Acapulco or Cabo San Lucas are on the west coast."

"Yes, but Cozumel, Cancun, Acapulco and Cabo are all still in Mexico, which defeats the entire point of getting out of Mexico for the weekend. I want us to do something fun and relaxing - outside of Mexico - for your birthday. Why are you being difficult about it?"

"Because it seems like a lot of trouble for you to have gone to for us to just spend a few days on the beach," she sighed.

"Well, I like going to a little trouble for my best girl," he smiled.

"Awww," she said, kissing his cheek, "I feel so special. Wow!" she exclaimed as the rambling beachside hacienda came into view. "Who did you say owns this place? It's huge!"

"A friend of Honor's married into one of the leading sugar cane and tobacco growing families on the island," he explained. "It's her husband's family's place."

"And they're just letting us have it for the weekend?" she asked, as they hopped out of the jeep.

"Yeah, they're pretty nice," he started, wrapping an arm around her waist, guiding her to the door, which was flung open by Lorelai.

"Happy Birthday, oh flesh of my loins!" she exclaimed, pulling Rory into a bear hug.

Everyone else rang out with a, "Surprise, happy birthday!"

"Oh my God, Mom!" Rory trilled, looking behind Lorelai to see everyone else gathered in the foyer. "Luke! Honor! Josh! Lane! Finn…Logan," she exclaimed, turning to throw herself at him and give him a hard kiss on the mouth. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she sang, leaning back.

"Actually you can thank Honor, since she organized everything," he grinned.

"Honor, thank you so much," Rory said, hugging her sister-in-law.

"Oh, it was all Logan's idea, I just did the logistical work so we could make sure it was really a surprise for you," Honor smiled.

"Well, I don't care whose idea it was, thank you both so much," Rory gushed, then turned to enthusiastically greet all the rest of her guests. When she was done, she came back around to her mother who was standing with her arm looped through Luke's. "I'm just so glad you're here," she beamed.

"So am I, kid," Lorelai grinned. "And we have some news," she continued mischievously.

"What? Tell me!" Rory bounced on the balls of her feet.

"This," Lorelai said excitedly, sticking out her left hand.

"Oh my gosh! You're engaged again!" Rory exclaimed, skipping over to embrace them both. "I'm so happy for you! This is wonderful, when did it happen?"

"About ten days ago," Luke smiled. "We wanted to wait to tell you in person."

"I'll never recover from the disappointment - it's a dagger through my heart," Finn could be heard saying in the background.

"I've been waiting to get an email from him or something, maybe a call," Logan said. "You're sure he knows?"

"Yeah, I'm sure," Honor replied, her eyes focused on the moon rising over the water. "He called me into the office for an actual meeting to discuss exactly what I know about the entire project."

"When was this?" he asked, taking a long draw off his drink.

"Three days ago," she replied.

"Sorry you had to go through that. I'm surprised he let you have the plane to come down here," Logan laughed, no humor in his tone.

"I don't think he thought I would dare cross him so soon after what happened. But I wasn't about to cancel the trip just because he's pissed. I'm not scared of him," she said, sticking out her chin.

"How long has he known?" Logan asked.

"I'm not sure," she shook her head. "A while, I think. He knows a lot about what you've done, what the site is all about, and he was trying to find out how much I exactly knew. Figure out how long I've known," she explained.

"He's pissed, you said?" he questioned, looking at his sister out of the corner of his eye.

"Yeah, he's pissed," she laughed dryly. "There will be fireworks."

"Oh, no doubt," he laughed with her, finishing his drink. "There will be fireworks. That's something to look forward to."

"So I do look older?"

"Oh, yeah. You walk into Denny's before five, you've got yourself a discount."

"Good deal."

"So you know what I think?"

"What?"

"I think you're a great, cool kid, and the best friend a girl could have."

"Right back at ya."

"And it's so hard to believe that at exactly this time many moons ago, I was lying in exactly the same position-"

"Oh, boy. Here we go."

"Mmm, what time is it, Ace?" Logan mumbled, finally realizing he wasn't just dreaming - there was an actual conversation going on in their bed. Maybe Rory had started talking in her sleep.

"Four oh three," she answered clearly

"It's too early, go back to sleep," he murmured into her shoulder, wrapping his arm more securely around her and snuggling closer.

"How can you sleep at a time like this?" Lorelai asked.

"What?" Logan exclaimed, bolting up in the bed, looking around for the fire, checking under the covers to make sure he was decent. "Lorelai? Is something wrong? What happened?"

"At precisely this moment, twenty-three years ago, I was cursing like a sailor, and I swear I was doing the splits over a case of dynamite that was exploding between my legs as your wife was being birthed," Lorelai said serenely.

"I wonder if the Waltons ever did this," Rory giggled, blushing, slightly embarrassed by their tradition with her husband as an audience.

"Um, is this some sort of quirky Gilmore tradition?" he asked, scratching his head, and scrubbing a hand over his face, trying to wake up.

"Quiet from you!" Lorelai admonished, slapping at Logan's hand. "You need to fully appreciate what I went through to give you the ravishing creature you claimed as your wife at this her birth moment," she grinned.

"Just go with it," Rory whispered.

"We're never spending your birthday with your mom ever again," he murmured into her ear.

"Where was I?" Lorelai said with a glare toward her son-in-law. "Ah, yes, I was screaming and swearing and being surrounded as I was by a hundred prominent doctors, I just assumed there was an actual use for the cup of ice chips they gave me."

"There wasn't," Rory chimed in. "I promise you'll learn how this goes in time," she whispered in Logan's ear.

"Oh goody," he mumbled sarcastically.

"But the pelting of the nurses sure was fun," Lorelai continued a bit louder.

"I love you, Mom," Rory smiled.

"Shh," Lorelai rebuked with a smile, "I'm getting to the part where he sees your head."

"Oh God," Logan groaned. "I didn't know this was part of the deal. When we have kids, yeah, but I don't want to imagine Lorelai strapped into the stirrups. I really wish I'd known about this when I insisted on no prenup."

"If you're not quiet, I'm going to go into more, not less, detail!"

"Shutting up," he replied, pulling a pillow over his head. "Let me know when it's safe to come out."

"So when exactly did you become a bikini wearer?" Lorelai teased Rory. They were laying out on the beach with the rest the girls while the guys body surfed in the waves. "You've owned about two bathing suits in your entire life and all of them would have been considered appropriate in about nineteen twenty."

"Mmm, honeymoon, Logan can be very persuasive when he wants to be," she replied cheekily. "He seems to think I have a figure made for a bikini, or not a bikini."

"I really don't need to hear how Logan managed to persuade you," Lorelai replied dryly.

"Probably not," Rory winked.

"I'm sure I could give you a good idea how he talked her into it," Paris piped in. "Warren Beatty Junior has a way of talking Rory into…"

"Paris!" Rory and Lorelai both exclaimed together.

"You know, your hair looks amazing," Lorelai changed the subject.

"I really need to get it cut - it's way too long - but yeah, it's really healthy," Rory nodded, running her fingers through her hair. "It's a combo of cocoa butter, avocado, and banana. I mash it all together and make a mask kinda thing that I put on my hair every couple of weeks. It keeps it really healthy and shiny. Logan likes the way it smells."

"Well, it looks great. That does sound like a Mary Ann recipe, though," Lorelai replied. "Mojitos are very good, I could use a refill," she hinted.

"I agree, mojitos are very good," Rory agreed.

"It's the fresh sugar cane," Honor interjected, signaling a servant to come over with a fresh pitcher. "It does make all the difference; they don't taste as good any other way."

"You're not going to get too upset if I tell you your wife in that bikini is now the new star of my fantasies, are you, mate?" Finn asked loudly as the guys walked up the beach.

"My wife is off limits to your degenerate imaginary world," Logan emphatically replied.

"Your mother-in-law is already the star of my fertile imagination," Finn winked.

"That might be all kinds of wrong as well, and I don't really want to even think about if you have them in some sort of depraved fantasy together. But your Lorelai fantasies are between you, Luke, and your therapist," Logan replied with a shake of his head.

"I wasn't planning on asking Luke's permission," Finn clarified, shooting a look in Luke's direction. "He doesn't seem like the understanding type."

"I think the glower on Luke's face tells me that your voice is carrying right now, not that you're being very quiet," Logan replied, trying not to laugh. "However, you think he won't understand, but you think I will?"

"Well, you are one of my very best mates; I figured you would be generous. You've married a very gorgeous woman - the least you could do is let the rest of us have fantasies about her, since you've had 'no touching' signs erected around her since not long after you met her."

"Yes, well, the 'no touching' signs got an addendum: 'no thinking about,' too," he shot back. "You don't get to have fantasies about my wife - find yourself your own woman."

"You know that Rosemary is unfortunately immune to my considerable charms," Finn replied drolly.

"Which is a sure sign of Rosemary's superior intellect," Logan returned, walking up to Rory's mat and shaking his hair so he sprayed water over her.

"Hey! Stop that!" she exclaimed. "You're wet," she whined.

"Really, Ace," he laughed, dropping down to lie next to her. "Your powers of observation are unmatched," he said, taking a long swig out of her drink. "This is a damn good mojito, I have to say."

"Fresh sugar cane. Honor says that's the key," she replied.

"Fresh sugar cane, huh?" he observed, and then kissed the water off her skin. "You kinda smell like coconuts. Ya know," he stage whispered, "it's too bad we're here with a bunch of people; otherwise I would have my way with you under that palm tree over there."

"Logan!" Rory giggled, blushing fiercely. "We have an audience," she whispered.

"I don't think the rest of us would object to remaining your audience while you engaged in marital activities," Finn interjected.

"You like to make love outside, Ace," he continued, ignoring Finn, running a finger up her thigh and playing with the string tie on her bathing suit bottom. "It's very 'natural and freeing,' I believe was your assessment. You love it when I…"

"I think some of us do not need to think about our innocent child in those ways!" Lorelai gasped, cutting him off.

"Here, here," Luke scowled, shooting daggers at Logan.

"Paybacks are a bitch, aren't they?" Logan replied, winking at Lorelai.

"Oh wow, Logan," Rory exclaimed, when she opened the wrapped package to find an elaborately carved, inlay box. "It's beautiful."

"The wood is from fallen limbs from a boabab tree. I had it carved for you while we were in Tanzania," he explained.

"It's beautiful, thank you," she smiled, leaning over to kiss his cheek, putting it down and moving to the next gift.

"There is something inside it," he laughed at her assumption he had just gotten her a box for her birthday. They might be trying to not be overly extravagant or wasteful with their money, but he considered his wife's first birthday since they got married to be a special occasion and had gotten a gift for her months before. He'd actually been surprised he'd been able to keep it a secret from her, with their having lived in such close quarters for so long.

"Oh," she giggled, opening the box. "I hadn't expected anything else. Oh, my God, Logan!" she exclaimed, hand on her chest, once she had the box open. Inside was a bracelet made with connected hexagon shaped sections of heavy, antique filigreed gold, each heavily encrusted with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds and a fringe of single seed pearls on the sides. "This is amazingly beautiful - you shouldn't have. Can we really afford it?" she rushed out.

"Yes, Ace, we can really afford it," he smiled at her flabbergasted expression. "I got it while we were in India. It's an antique," he said, helping her unscrew the clasp and put it on her wrist. "It looks perfect on you," he said with a kiss. "I had the hardest time choosing between this and a pair of earrings that were there as well, but I finally chose this because you don't usually wear large earrings," he explained, looking closely at her expression. He'd actually been unable to choose, and gotten both, saving the earrings for Christmas.

"You're not supposed to be spending this kind of money. I should be mad at you," she reproached softly. "I'm never listening to you again when you tell me not to go all out for your birthday - I just made you dinner, gave you a framed and signed Alyssa Milano pic from Maxim, and…"

"Granted me sexual favors," he winked. "I think we're quite even. In fact, I think I probably got the better gift!"

"Here, here!" Finn saluted a wildly blushing Rory.

"I didn't need to hear that!" Lorelai exclaimed.

"Neither did I," Luke muttered.

"It's going to be a while before you're fully paid back for my wake up call this morning," Logan shot back to his mother-in-law.

"How did you get it? When did you get it? We're always together. How did you hide it?" Rory peppered him with questions.

"I can't let you in on all my secrets, Ace," he grinned in satisfaction over her surprise and loving his gift. "Come on; finish opening your gifts so I can dance the night away with the birthday girl."

"I think my feet are gonna fall off," Rory mumbled into Logan's neck. They were both covered in a sheen of sweat, having danced all night to the salsa band Honor had hired.

"I second that emotion - I'm about to fall over here," he agreed.

"You haven't been wearing heels all night," she pouted. "Which by definition means that my feet hurt more than yours."

"I told you to take them off hours ago," he admonished. "You have no one to blame but yourself."

"I know, but they go with my outfit," she replied, sticking out her bottom lip in a playful pout . Sighing happily, she kissed his cheek and held up her wrist, shaking it so the bracelet glinted in the moonlight. "Thank you so much for this," she said.

"Your bracelet?" he asked. "I'm glad you like it - it's not like I can take it back."

"Well, yes," she nodded into his neck, then lifted her head to smile up at him. "But mostly for the whole weekend, the party, everyone being here, it was perfect. Thank you, I feel so loved," she finished, reaching up to kiss him softly.

"You're welcome, Ace," he replied softly, after pulling back, leaving their foreheads touching. "I love you, I'm glad you're so happy. Happy birthday."

"Happy anniversary," she replied with a smile.

"Anniversary?" he questioned.

"A year ago tonight…" she started.

"I asked you to marry me," he finished with a smile, leaning in to kiss her again as he remembered.

"I'm so glad you made it home for my birthday," she sighed, leaning back to give him a kiss.

"I am too," he murmured against her lips, pulling her back into him. "I've really missed you."

"Should we get back inside?" she asked, pulling back and looking into her childhood home at all the partygoers inside.

"I'm not quite sure I'm ready get off this couch, go inside, and share you again yet," he said, following her gaze. "Everyone inside gets to see you all the time, but my Rory time is precious."

"I think you talked me into being a rude host," she laughed quietly, snuggling back into his arms.

"I know I'm probably going to regret this," he began after a few minutes, "Honor will definitely want to kill me, since she set everything up for tomorrow night - the dinner, music, dancing, flowers, everything - but right now I'm not caring."

"You're taking me dancing tomorrow night?" she interrupted, leaning forward so she could see his face.

"Yes, but that's not the point," he chuckled. "I had everything planned out, and it's going to be perfect, but then Honor gave me the ring, and…"

"Ring, what ring?" she cut in. "Logan, what's going on?" she asked, her forehead wrinkling.

"I had this perfect setting and the perfect moment all planned out, and the perfect ring, everything, I figured you couldn't say no. And then I saw you tonight, and realized, you're only twenty-two, I'm only twenty-four; maybe you don't really want to be this tied down this soon in your life. It's not like I ever really expected to do this already, that I ever would have met someone already who I would want to do this with. Never thought I would meet someone, really fall in love, want to make a life with her. But then I thought, we're us, and nothing about us has ever been about things being the way we thought they would be. We've always done things our own way, on our own timeframe…"

"Logan, you're babbling," she cut in again, snapping her fingers in front of his face "Which I'm used to, Gilmores are master babblers, but usually it means you have a point but you don't really know how to get to it. What's going on?"

"I…," he started, untangling himself from her, getting down in front of her kneeling down, taking her left hand in his, "I had this whole thing planned out, something fabulous, that would let you know how serious I am about this, but then Honor gave me the ring I picked out earlier and I started to get nervous, and now I really just have to know.

"Rory Gilmore, I love you, you've changed my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined, none of which I would go back to if given the chance. I know we're young, but these last few months have made me really accept something I already realized but wasn't ready to do anything about. I want us to be forever. I want to spend my life with you. One day have kids that have my hair and your eyes, or maybe just a little girl that looks just like you, go to sleep next to you every night and wake up holding you every morning. Will you marry me?"

"Logan…" she stuttered, tears in her eyes. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah, Ace, I am," he smiled, pulling a small, light blue box out of his pocket, opening it to reveal a simple six prong diamond ring, set in platinum.

"Wow…I…didn't…" she started, staring down at the ring, then up at his expectant face. "Yes," she breathed.

"What?" he asked, thinking he'd heard her, but still unsure.

"Yes," she said more firmly, a smile starting to overtake her face.

"Really?" he questioned.

"Yeah," she nodded.

"May I?" he asked, pulling the ring out of the box, sliding it on her finger after she indicated he could put it on for her.

"I love you, Ace," he murmured against her lips.

"I love you too," she smiled against his lips."

"Happy anniversary, Ace."

"I've already planned the wedding," Lorelai explained, to Rory. They were sitting on a couch together on the covered veranda overlooking the beach drinking a fruity beverage out of a pineapple, watching the guys engage in some sort of croquette death match on the lawn. "New Year's Eve under the chuppah, at the new house at midnight, to symbolize new beginnings. You and Logan, of course. Mom and Dad, Sookie and Jackson, Liz and T.J., Jess, who's going to be the best man; Michel, because we kinda have to invite him or he would pout forever; and April. That's it."

"That sounds perfect. I bet it snows," Rory clapped. "I can't believe Grandma and Grandpa went ahead and bought that house for you."

"I know! I was flabbergasted too, but they said they knew somehow things were going to work out with us - Mom had a premonition, if you can believe that," Lorelai guffawed, slapping her thigh. "When did she turn into Endora? And if things didn't work out, they could always sell it for a profit; they were giving us two years to get things back on track."

"You can laugh if you want, but I think it's sweet," Rory demurred.

"I know - I actually started bawling when they gave us the keys," Lorelai confessed. "We didn't have a clue when we went over there for dinner. It was like the cherry on the top of the very long and shitty journey, but we've made it and that perfect house - which you're going to love, by the way was there to tell is that it was all worth it somehow. I'd never felt so loved by my parents my entire life," she finished, wiping a tear away.

"They can be pretty great when they want to be," Rory agreed.

"Yeah, they can be. Insane, controlling, and annoying as well," Lorelai nodded.

"Well of course they can; they wouldn't be Emily and Richard Gilmore if they weren't," Rory giggled.

"But you're right," Lorelai replied after a moment, "they can also be pretty great sometimes too. So you're okay with Jess being the best man to your matron of honor?" she queried.

"Yeah, of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Rory asked quizzically.

"I don't know - it's just Jess, you have a history, Logan," Lorelai threw out. "Luke was worried."

"Mom, it's fine, it's great," Rory smiled. "Logan and I could not be happier if we were actual lobsters, and he couldn't care less about Jess or anyone else from my past. I don't think he's the jealous type as long as he's in a good place in his life, and he's happy with me. We're happy, so he's carefree. He feels no threats," she waved off Lorelai's concerns.

"Plus, Jess has emailed us a few of times, mostly while we were in India and a couple more since we got to Mexico City, to tell us he's impressed with the site and is following the stories, really likes the work we're doing," Rory continued. "I've answered most of them, but Logan has replied to a couple as well. It's no biggie."

"Wow, Logan is just full of zen," Lorelai chuckled.

"No, he's just a cocky bastard who knows I'm hopelessly attracted to and in love with him," Rory giggled.

"So he knows?" Rory asked rhetorically, threading her fingers through Logan's and dropping her head on his shoulder as he finished telling her about his conversation with Honor.

"Yeah, he knows," he confirmed needlessly.

"Why didn't you tell me two days ago when you found out?" she continued, tapping their hands against his thigh.

"Because I didn't want to put this on you before all the festivities this weekend. I wanted you to have a good time. It's your birthday," he explained, steering them toward where the water was lapping against the shore.

"I'm aware of what the significance of yesterday was, and while I appreciate that you wanted everything to be perfect for me this weekend, that's not the point. We're partners here - in life and in business - and when something that affects our business comes to your attention, you need to tell me," she chided him gently. "Knowing your dad knows is kinda a big thing to keep from me."

"I know, and if it makes you feel better I felt horrible keeping it from you, but I didn't want to keep you from having a good time," he reiterated.

"I get it, really I do, but you still should have told me. I'm a big girl, I can handle it," she said in a teasing tone, though she was serious.

"Thank goodness you're a big girl, otherwise I might be locked up for all the inappropriate thoughts that go through my mind constantly with you as the star," he chuckled.

"Mmm, I like those kinds of thoughts!" she winked. "But more seriously, what are we going to do? You said Honor indicated he's less than thrilled with us right now."

"I guess the best thing we can do is email him and set up a meeting for when we get back," he suggested.

"You know this really is depressing," Rory broke the silence in the jeep several days later.

"What?" he returned. "Can you tell what the problem is - we haven't moved an inch in about five minutes. Is there a wreck, or some sort of construction?"

"No, or at least I can't see anything without getting out to investigate," she said, sticking her head out the window.

"Good grief, and I thought traffic could be bad in Mumbai; it's nothing compared to here," he grumbled, putting his elbow on the door, and resting his cheek against his chin. "What was it you were saying is depressing?"

"I was talking about the lack of education opportunities," she replied. "Yes, they have state sponsored education, but there's no commitment to actually educating anyone. They throw money at bureaucracy, not at actually educating anyone."

"That's not exactly unique - major urban school systems in the US have crumbling infrastructure too," he returned. "But, yes, bad as they are, they still do a better job of educating than these schools here."

"The only people that actually get a decent education are those that can afford private schools, not the government run ones," she said, shaking her head. "How is anyone supposed to ever get to a better place than where they were born if they have on opportunities? If only the rich are able to get a good education, then the economic problems of this country are self-perpetuating, ad infinitum.

"We take for granted that if you work hard, you can make a better life for yourself," she continued, turning to look at him. "My mother is a perfect example of that. We lived in a potting shed for the first twelve years of my life, she made all my clothes because she couldn't afford store bought, and we ate out of the stuff that the kitchen from the inn was going to throw out. I know what being poor is like. But Mom was still able to work her way up in the ranks to become manager of the Independence because she had a base of a good education from before she dropped out after she had me. These people, if they're born poor, they have no way of getting out of it."

"Rory," he tried to interrupt.

"No, you have no idea what being poor is like," she said anxiously, with a wave of her hand.

"I know that, I wasn't trying to say I have any idea what that's like," he tried again. "That's not what I'm trying to say here."

"It's just, if the only people who have access to capital or any sort of opportunity for a good living are those who already have wealth and opportunities," she plowed on. "If there's no opportunity for those at the lower end of the spectrum then what sort of incentive does anyone have to try to better themselves and try to better circumstances for their families? No wonder there's so much illegal immigration to the US - it's the only way many of these people that haven't gotten any real education have to try to make a better life for themselves and their families."

"I know," he nodded.

"I just don't get why people, why a government system, would so misuse or just dismiss its greatest assets - its people. It's like some sort of self fulfilling prophecy of doom for an entire country," she said sadly, with a shake of her head.

"It does seem rather stupid," he replied, continuing to nod. "There's no way to better the circumstance of the people of a nation with a government that is only serving a small segment of its society."

"It does seem rather futile, doesn't it?" she agreed, falling silent for a moment, lost in her thoughts. "Oh, look," she said after a few minutes, "the traffic seems to beginning to move," she pointed. "Hopefully we can get home soon, I'm getting hungry."

"Hey," she said softly, coming over to where he was sitting on the bed and running her fingers through his hair to his neck, massaging the tense muscles she found there. "I know you're nervous, but whatever happens, you know I love you."

"I know," he mumbled, pulling her toward him and burying his face in her stomach. "I don't think I could get through this without you."

"Well, good thing you don't have to then," she replied cheekily, which was belied by how tightly she held onto him in return. Both were at times physically holding one another together, not allowing the other to descend into a frozen, nervous mess. "Come on, let's pack. It's time to go home and face the music."

TBC

Endnote - So they're heading home, which means this story is close to being finished, but is not as of yet.

Also, I've been asked over the years why I didn't include an actual proposal scene in House Hunting, the reason is I had written this one not too terribly long before I wrote House Hunting, and I'm not much for retreading over ground I've already covered.

Thanks for reading and reviews, as always, are loved and appreciated.