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Chapter 14 – *Against All Odds

How can I just let you walk away
Just let you leave without a trace?
When I stand here taking every breath with you, ooh ooh
You're the only one who really knew me at all

Today was the day. It was the day that Rory had been waiting for. Today she would take her son home. Home was a house way to big for just her and him, but she had no doubt the many guest rooms would be filled by Lane and Zach and her mom and grandma. She doubted that the house would be just her and Richard for a long time.

Paris is waiting in Richie's room as Rory and Lorelei walk up. It had been such a surprise that she was going to get to bring him home, that she had tried to call Logan several times and even texted him but there had been no answer. He should be here, but he's not and she's disappointed but refuses to let it ruin this day.

"I'm not ready for this mom." She says.

"Yes you are."

"I'm not. I don't even have the nursery set up!"

"Yes you do."

"I think I would know if I'd fixed up a nursery."

"And I think you would know that there was no in hell that Emily Gilmore would let her only great grandchild come home to anything less then a perfect room. She's got workers there as we speak setting it all up."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously." Lorelei says. "Mom's good for a few thing." She winks.

They stand outside the room while Paris finishes removing any stickers or things left from tracking his heartbeat and oxygen intake. When she finishes she motions for them to come in.

"Well Mom I think he's ready to blow this joint." She says.

"What is this?" Rory laughs at the onesie that Paris has dressed him in. "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee" she reads it.

"I figured there's more of that pumping through your veins then blood at this point. Seemed appropriate."

Rory leans in to hug Paris, "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome." Paris still hugs stiffly but her feelings at the gesture are the same as Rory's.

"Hi little boy." Rory says as she leans in and picks up her son. "Momma's here."

He coos and drools and Lorelei leans in and wipes his lips.

"What do we need to do?" Lorelei asks.

"Sign here." Paris nods for Maddie to bring in the paperwork. "I know your social and the rest of your info so I filled it out for you. All you need to do it sign." Paris adds.

Rory wants to laugh. How in the world Paris knows her social is beyond her, but doesn't surprise her. She hands Richie to Lorelei and signs the papers.

"That's it. He's all yours."

Rory looks around once more for Logan. She checks her phone, no texts or missed calls. She's not going to wait any longer. She takes the blanket she's brought for the baby and wraps him in it and carries him out of the hospital and into the car seat in Lorelei's Jeep. They'd brought two so they won't have to transfer the seat.

They turn on the radio softy and head home to Hartford.

How can you just walk away from me
When all I can do is watch you leave?
'Cause we've shared the laughter and the pain
And even shared the tears
You're the only one who really knew me at all

Logan wakes up way past noon. Last night had been long and painful. He's not so much hung over as his body aches from being ready to fight all night. His lower back hurts and his neck and shoulders feel like they are wound tighter then ever before. The bed next to him is empty and the house is silent. O must be gone already.

He gets up and makes himself a cup of coffee. As it brews he runs his hand through his hair and remembers the horrors:

"You must be joking Logan." Shira says.

"I'm not. His name is Richard Logan Huntzberger."

"And this child is with Rory Gilmore?" Shira says disgusted.

"Yes."

"Where were you when all of this was happening?!" She accuses Odette.

"I…"

"No, mom leave her out of this!"

"Leave her out of this! Logan she's your wife! You cheated on your wife and now you have an illegitimate child and OMG the Prenup! Mitchem what does the prenup say about this?!"

There is silence from Mitchum.

"Mitchum, say something!" she yells.

"Mom!"

"Enough!" Mitchem slams his hand on the table. The entire things shakes and the dishes clatter and the drinks spill on the silk table cloth.

"I'll call the attorneys in the morning. We'll have the papers drawn up and the check written. She can sign it as soon as you can get it to her and it will remove all your ties to her that child. Plus a NDA so she can't talk about it or you."

"Excuse me?!" Odette says. "NDA, Mitchem that's his son."

"Fine then we'll draw up adoption papers and pay her off and make a press announcement that you two have taken in a child. It'll be great publicity."

"Screw you!" Logan yells.

"Very articulate." Mitchum deadpans

"I'm done letting you control my life and take over my business and I'm done trying so hard to get your approval so yeah, screw that."

"Screw that huh, son? Big words for such a little man. What did I do to cause this situation? You had the affair, you got another woman pregnant, and you decided to marry Odette. "

"I did, and I made all of those decisions willingly. I'm not blaming that on you. This was all me. This was all because of the man I chose to be to try to make you happy. But I'm not going to do that anymore. Here's the deal Mitchum. I'm way to valuable to you and the company at this point for you to fire me over this. I'm not giving up Rory or my son, and I'm sure as hell not giving up my job. I'm damn good at it and you know it. So if you want me out of the company you are going to have to find a pretty great reason to let me go. I've got attorneys of my own, and as far as the money, which I know will be your next threat to take away from me, well I've got my own accounts where my paychecks have gone. I don't need you or your money anymore dad."

The fighting continued for a while. Threats had been made, he'd even thrown his phone at a wall at one point causing it to shatter into a million pieces, but finally he grabbed Odette's hand and they left. Mitchem had been left without anything to hold over Logan's head.

He felt free.

"You ok?" He asks Odette.

"It's a lot to take in, Logan."

"I know. I'm sorry babe." He takes her hand and kisses it.

"I know you are. It's just hard."

"I am sorry O. You know that right? I never imagined this would be the start of our marriage."

"I know. None of this was planned Logan, I know, but it's here now. Let's just go home and get some rest. It's been a long day."

So take a look at me now
Well there's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face
Ooh, take a look at me now
Well there's just an empty space
And you coming back to me is against the odds
And that's what I've got to face

I wish I could just make you turn around
Turn around and see me cry
There's so much I need to say to you
So many reasons why
You're the only one who really knew me at all

It had been one big nightmare and now on top of all of it he had to get a new phone. He drank his coffee and checked his emails for work on his iPad. Business was 7 days a week, even though he tried to take weekends off. It was going to be along day. Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest but he would definitely not be getting any rest. Odette had left for the day. He knows it is a lot to deal with, she had been amazing but he still worries about her constantly. She didn't deserve this.

He decided to get dressed and go visit his son.

It doesn't take long to get to the hospital but he finds an empty room where his son had been. He asks the nearest nurse who advises that Richie is no longer there. He was released.

He can't believe Ace just took Richard and left without leaving an address for him. He has no idea where she lives right now, but he definitely knows where to start looking.

So take a look at me now
Well there's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face

Now Take a look at me now
'Cause that's just an empty space
But to wait for you is all I can do
And that's what I've got to face

The road to Stars Hallow is paved with good intentions. Most of the townspeople want to do the good thing, the right thing, and they tend to look down on anyone that doesn't fit into their mold, I.E. Jess and Logan. While he can't stand the guy, for only the very basic of jealousy reason, he understand the hard time the guy had fitting in. Ok, so he didn't draw chalk outlines of bodies in front of Doosies, or run the town's favorite daughter into a tree, but he would forever be the outsider too. He was the rich boy trying to corrupt Rory Gilmore. How dare he.

The things Logan finds funny, the thing he finds most interesting is that in the entirety of their relationship it was he who had been the most changed by her. She showed him that being a one-woman guy wasn't a death sentence. She taught him that when in doubt honesty was always best and she showed him that love, true love like what he had with her existed beyond fairy tales; that the idea of love and marriage weren't this abstract, fucked up thing that he had grown up with.

Sure he had helped her to reach out of her comfort zone, and encouraged her to take more chances, but those were all things already within her, within his Ace, but she had changed him, he felt, on a molecular level. He simply wanted to do better, achieve more, be the best man he could be, not only for her, but because HE wanted to be better.

As he pulled into the gravel driveway at the Dragonfly Inn he steeled himself for the interaction he was sure to come. Lorelei Gilmore, mother of the goddamn universe, always stuck by her daughter, and that meant that no matter what the circumstances were he was the enemy.

Nothing in the beautiful lobby seemed to be any different then it was all those years ago, and yet it was still immaculate. The person at the desk, a man dressed in what he was sure would give Michel a run for his money looks up as he enters.

"Welcome to the Dragonfly, can I… oh it you." He snarls.

"Have we met?" Logan says confused.

"I have met your picture many times Mr. Huntzberger. What can I help you with?"

Logan is sure that this man is still somehow the Frenchman from all those years ago, and yet he looks and sounds nothing like him.

"I'm looking for Lorelei. Is she here?"

"No. She's unavailable. So sorry. Goodbye."

"Frederic, did you update the Parson's reservation to include the rollaway bed for their daughter? And did you let Michel know they want to book a few of the spa treatments at the annex?" Lorelei unknowingly walks into the reservation desk conversation.

Frederic rolls his eyes and sighs. Logan wants to laugh out loud at how much the American reminds him of the man who is apparently his husband, if the information he remembers being conveyed by Rory is correct.

"Yes, Lorelei, they should be checking in shortly, I believe. You have a visitor." He nods towards Logan.

"I do?" She turns and stops. There is no movement or sounds. Abruptly the door opens with what he assumes to be the Parson's, when a lesbian couple with their teenage daughter in tow, make their way to the desk.

"Hello. Welcome to the Dragonfly, can I assume you are the Parson Family."

Lorelei is still standing behind the desk. Logan still in the foyer.

The women check in and while Logan is still rooted in place he can't help but notice an immediate difference between Michel and Frederic. It's the way in which he greets people, especially the teenager who is immediately bonding with the man over music and the horror of having to share a room with your parent's for a weekend. He promised the girl loads of information on different place to go, like Sofie's and Read, White and Blue movies so she's not stuck doing the typical antiquing that it's clear her parents are here to do.

After Frederic, or Freddie as he tells the girl to call him leaves to accompany the family to their room, Lorelei takes a step closer to him.

"I'm not writing you any letter this time. You only get so many chances my boy."

Logan chuckles, "I'm all out of asking for chances, Lorelei. She's made her choice. I'm not here about Rory. I'm here about my son."

"What about him?" She takes a step closer.

"I went by the hospital, and was told he was released. She took him home and I had no idea."

"She tried to call you. Not her fault you never answer your phone."

"I assumed as much. My phone is broken, I wasn't accusing her of anything. I just want to see him, to make sure he's ok, but to be honest I don't know where to look. Last I heard she was staying with you, and Paris and Lane, and I don't want to bother everyone."

"So you just figured you'd bother me."

He sighs but doesn't back down. "You can hate me all you want Lorelei. It's fine if you need me to be the bad guy."

"I don't need you to be the bad guy, Logan. I just need you to make up your mind. In or Out. Here or there. Rory or Odette."

"That's not fair on so many levels."

"Yeah, well life isn't fair, Logan. Or is that a lesson you haven't learned yet?"

"Damn it Lorelei, I'm not some college kids, living off of daddy's money anymore. I've made my own name for myself, and I didn't choose between Rory and O because there was no decision to make. Rory wanted nothing serious. Rory time and time again reiterated 'Vegas'. Rory walked away."

He took a breath to calm himself. "I'm not here to argue about her, I'm not. At this point it's all old news and water under the bridge, or whatever, but I'm going to be like Christopher and be a father only when it suite me, or only on my time and agenda. I plan of being a father every day to that little boy, so please spare me the poor little rich boy hatred. Where is my son?" He's not angry, just frustrated and the last words come out as almost a plea.

Lorelei is taken aback by his outburst and for the first time she has to admit to herself that this was the boy who would have given her daughter the sun and moon and stars if she would have let him. It was her daughter that had said no, and walked away. She had told Rory on the day she had told her she was pregnant that Logan wasn't Chris, and here he was proving to be anything but.

"I'm a mom Logan. Ok. I'm a mom and my daughter just went through something huge, very much alone."

"I love that you and Rory, have this incredible connection, but.."

"I'm not finished." She interrupts. "But you're right. You aren't anything like Chris. I don't agree with the way things have gone down between the two of, but I have to admit that not all of that was your fault."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet, because she's living at her new, old house in Hartford. Which her grandmother gifted her, and is currently staying in with her for a few weeks."

"Emily and Richard's house?"

"That's not a threat you should take lightly. Emily Gilmore knows how to hold a grudge like no one else on the entire planet. Believe me, I know that first hand."

"You learned from the best, huh." He jokes.

"Touché." She says.

"Thank you, Lorelei."

"You're welcome."

"And I meant what I said. I promise you I will always be here for Richard."

"I know you will. Now, go before I change my mind."

Logan knows that Lorelei is watching him from the window as he makes his way back to his car. He knows that as soon as he's out of sight she's going to call her daughter and give her a heads up. But that's ok. As long as he gets to see his son he doesn't care.

He pulls out his iPad to find an email from his assistant letting him know she his new phone. He thanks her and then send a quick email to O letting her know his phone is dead and he's headed to see his son. Before he can leave the driveway she is face timing him.

"He's been sprung?!" He squeals.

"Yep, on my way to Rory's house to see him. You want to come? Or are you still wanting some distance?"

"I didn't want distance from you or him, Logan. I just wanted some me time. Which I got. B T W you bought me some new nails and hair today." She laughs.

"Did I?"

"Yep, and if you send me the address I'll be there before you will."

He agrees to send her the address and they hang up. He drives away from the Dragonfly and once he is on his way to see Richie he finally feels like maybe, just maybe the day isn't going to be a total wash.

Take a good look at me now
'Cause I'll still be standing here
And you coming back to me is against all odds
It's the chance I've got to take
Take a look at me now

*Lyrics are Against All Odds by Phil Collins