Hi ho hi ho... I've been working really hard trying to get this and maybe one more out before I'm gone for a week. I hope you are all still enjoying. I can't believe all the positive feedback I've been getting. I am so, so glad you guys are still reading and enjoying. You all make the day seem brighter so i thank you for everything.
Disclaimer: ASP owns it all.
Chapter 9 – *The Only Exception
When I was younger
I saw my daddy cry
And curse at the wind
He broke his own heart
And I watched
As he tried to reassemble it
And my mom swore
That she would never let herself forget
And that was the day that I promised
I'd never sing of love
If it does not exist, but darlin'
You are the only exception
Once again alone in her room, Rory lay staring at the ceiling, she's not sure she can pinpoint exactly when her life got so far off track. She'd like to say it was the day she'd said no to his proposal, but if she really thinks about it she knows it was before that. It was the day she had decided that Mitchum was right about her. The day she'd talked Logan into stealing that yacht. It was the day she'd started doubting her self, and in turn that she would ever be enough for Logan.
Sure he told her and more importantly had shown her every day, in every way possible that he loved her, respected her, and only wanted what was best for her, but all she could hear was the sound of Shira saying how she'd never be the kind of woman that Logan needed, the kind of woman that would be able to support him and his business connection. I mean, hell, she reasoned that if her mom of all people hadn't been able to make things work with her dad, let alone Luke, who loved her mother exactly as she was, what in hell did she think she was doing trying to make things work with someone like Logan.
Yet when she'd run into in him a few years later, she hadn't been able to stop herself. He was the only place in her life that felt like Stars Hallow did, like home. Sure he'd had Odette, but at lest she knew where she'd stood, and the fact that Odette and the engagement existed took the pressure off. She didn't have to be the perfect socialite to fit into the Huntzberger fortune. All she had to do was feel herself in his arms and let herself pretend it was forever.
The sexual part of their relationship had never been a problem. From the very start the chemistry between them had crackled in anticipation of what was to come. So it was easy to rationalize that it was only physical, that it was just fun and when she had made a comment about what happens in Vegas staying in Vegas he didn't exactly fight her on it.
Rory knew that her saying no to him that day had forever changed her, and them, but she was willing to take whatever she could have of him.
And then Odette had moved in.
It shouldn't have come as a shock to her system but it suddenly made everything over the last few years so very real. She, the once only woman in his life, was the other woman, a booty call, and even as she knew she wanted to continue to call him about everything, she knew she couldn't. He was really getting married, to someone that wasn't her, and it hurt to the very core of her being.
That last night at the bed and breakfast had been nothing short of perfect. It wasn't a stupid phone call with her saying something that didn't exist was over, which had been petty and wrong on so many levels to put on him. It was the very best of them both. He had offered her the house, but she had to let him go. Which seemed to have been the right the decision since everything she'd read about him and Odette in the society pages seemed to show a happy successful couple.
The scary part was that now she would have to make the decision of telling him or not. When she'd decided to make the call she had three days before his wedding, and now he would be a married man. Could she do that to him? Should she do that to him? Something seemed wrong about any decision she made. Either way she had already lost him. Now she just wanted to focus on Richie and make sure he didn't lose his father.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Rory thought for sure she was dreaming. She has just closed her eyes, hanging on to the memory of the sound of his voice. It felt like the most soothing sound in the world right now.
She opened her eyes slowly, feeling a presence in the room. "Logan?!" she said shocked.
"In the flesh." He responds and it terrifies her.
"What are you doing here?"
He nods at her, "I came to see you…"
"How did you.." she tries to interrupt him but he keeps talking.
"And my son." She feels like she's been slapped. He knows. Oh my god, he knows, and she hadn't been the one to tell him.
Maybe I know, somewhere
Deep in my soul
That love never lasts
And we've got to find other ways
To make it alone
But keep a straight face
And I've always lived like this
Keeping a comfortable, distance
And up until now
I had sworn to myself that I'm content
With loneliness
Because none of it was ever worth the risk
But you are, the only exception
Logan watches Rory from the open doorway; she looks like a little girl. The hospital blankets covered with a quilt Lorelei had made her as a child, covered her. Her yummy food pajamas covering her body, that show scars and bruises, along with the slight weight from child a carrying. She looks beautiful. His heart aches.
Her brows crease and he knows she's got something on her mind. He's not sure there has ever been a moment where Rory Gilmore hasn't had something on her mind. It's just not how she works. He can't stop himself from asking, "Penny for your thoughts."
She doesn't move, doesn't even respond. He wants to be angry with her, but she looks so lost and his anger wanes. He shifts slightly in the doorway, unsure what to do next. Does he say something else, or does she really not want to talk to him?
After a moment she opens he eyes, and looks shocked to see him. He's a bit surprised to be here himself.
"Logan?" She says his name.
He pulls out his confidence to cover up his fear, "In the flesh."
She can't hide the fear from her face as she sees that he's standing there, and she looks like he's slapped her when he says he's here to see his son.
His son. He says the words, like a foreign language on his tongue, because he can't use their usual playful banter to beat around the bush. This is not the time for smart-ass comments and raised eyebrow smirks. He doesn't want to have a friendly conversation. He wants answers.
It's hard to be so blunt with her, but he's having a difficult time breathing and he wants to just rip off the band aid with one quick pull.
"You know."
"I know."
The silence in the room is deafening. The sounds of the second hand on the sterile clock on the wall tick away the wordless encounter.
He's not going to let her off the hook. She needs to say something.
"Hey kiddo. I just talked to Paris… LOGAN?" Lorelei stops immediately.
"Lorelei." He acknowledges, but never takes his eyes off of Rory, who has yet to make eye contact again.
There must be a very interesting spot on her blanket. She doesn't even look up at her mother.
Rory?' Lorelei asks as she makes her way over to her daughter. He knows how important her mother is to her, but sometimes he disliked the way their closeness has a way of coming between them.
She should be talking to him now, hell she should have been talking to him all along, but as usual it was her Lorelei there to save the day.
"Damn it Ace. Talk to me." He demands.
"Hey, not the time or place Logan." Lorelei interjects.
"Considering I wasn't given any consideration before this very moment, I don't see there being any other time or place."
"Oh is the big shot trying to make demands now?"
"I'd say I'm a long way from demanding anything other then a conversation with the mother of my child, Lorelei. Something that I'm pretty sure I deserve, from someone I'm certain I deserve much better from."
"Who do you think you are talking to Mr. What Happens in Vegas?" She accuses.
"You wanna chime in any time here Rory?" He looks around at the girl still in the bed. "Ok, fine. I could defend myself on that but if it makes it easier on you go ahead and condemn me."
"No one is condemning you." Rory finally joins the conversation. "Mom it's ok. We need to talk."
"You sure, Kid?"
Rory nods in affirmation as Lorelei leaves, making sure that Logan has to move out of her way. "I'll be right outside."
Once she is gone from sight, though Logan is certain she's not out of earshot, he continues, "I'm listening." He sits on the edge of her bed. She looks so sad. The IVs going in her arm strike him mute momentarily. He takes her hand softly in his and she looks at him finally. "Please."
"I found out about a month after our last visit. I'm never late, never, but I just assumed with everything going on and moms wedding planning I was just off, but it never came. First I took a home test, then confirmed with my doctor."
"Why didn't you call me?" He brushed a stray stand of hair off her face.
"I don't know. You were marrying her, and you had a life I was not a part of. What right did I have to do this to you?"
"If I remember correctly it takes two to tango." He tries to lighten the mood.
She softly smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "I just figured you were better off."
He drops her hand and stands and runs his own hand through his already unruly hair. "It doesn't matter where we stood. I should have been a part of this." He moves across the room. He had been much to close to her. "What does Paul have to say about all this?"
"Paul?"
"Yes, Paul, your boyfriend."
"How do you always remember his name, I forget most of the time." She laughs. "It doesn't matter. He's not his and we aren't together."
"You're not?" His eyes make brief contact with hers.
"No, we hadn't seen each other in moths before he broke up with me. By text."
"Text?"
"I deserved it."
There is silence again. "Hey, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on your honeymoon?"
Logan tries to hide the confusion beating in heart. "Honeymoon?"
"Yeah, last I heard you and Odette were getting married this past weekend."
"I see."
"So…"
"Honor had her second baby, Elias Huntzberger."
"She did? Please tell her I said congratulations."
"And I didn't get married this past weekend."
"You didn't?" He hears her say and he knows the hope that he hears in the tone of her voice is something he only wants to hear.
"No." He says before sighing, "O and I got married three months ago."
This time she makes sharp, direct contact with him. There's a sharp intake of breath from her open mouth.
There's an icy silence in the room again and neither of them seem to be able to break. Time certainly has a way of changing things, and in this moment he's certain that he only imagined the love between them, because the girl he had proposed to so long ago wouldn't have let him marry anyone else so easily.
I've got a tight grip on reality
But I can't let go of what's in front of me here
I know your leaving in the morning, when you wake up
Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream, oh
You are, the only exception
You are, the only exception
Lyrics – The Only Exception by Paramore
