Sunday Funday update for you guys. I am loving all the feedback and am so, so glad that you guys seems to still be enjoying this.
Discliamer: Blah, blah blippty blah blah ASP.
Chapter 16 – *A Groovy Kind Of Love
When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do
Is take a look at you, then I'm not so blue
When you're close to me, I can feel your heart beat
I can hear you breathing near my ear
Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me got a groovy kind of love
It's been a couple of days since Logan has seen Richie. He wants to be there every single second of every single day, but after the intensity of their last meeting he has decided to give it a few day to cool off. He knows it will take long then a few days for things to work out but he doesn't want to smother Rory or push Odette.
But having been two whole days he's missed his son immensely and so he text her and ask if he can stop by. She respond saying it will be fine so after work he heads to Hartford. He pulls into the drive way and there are already four cars parked and he recognizes them all immediately except for one.
He knocks on the door and it's opened within second by Finn.
"Logan my boy gets your arse in here and have a drink, or three."
"What are you doing here?"
"The boys and I have been here since this morning. Figured mother could use some spoiling."
Logan looks at him, "You know?"
"Can't say I ever thought I'd see the day that you would turn down our girl for anything."
"How?" He questions.
"She needed a friend mate."
"She called you?"
"I'll have you know that mother and I speak quite frequently, father."
Just then Lane walks into the hallway on her way to the kitchen for more chips. "Do I know you?" She asks Finn who laughs.
"IF you weren't married luv."
"If she wasn't married what?" Maddie says as she walks over to Finn.
"Don't worry he couldn't handle me." Lane says as she nods to Logan.
"She's a spitfire." Maddie says. "I like her. Beer?" she asks Logan who nods and she heads to the kitchen with Lane.
He follows Finn into the living room. It's now basically empty of furniture. He is informed that Finn, Colin, Robert and Zack have moved all the furniture into the garage to allow Rory time to redecorate. The living room looks nothing like it did two days ago.
The boys all greet him with hugs and hand shakes and Rory tell him it's time for Richie to eat so if he'll give her a few minutes he can take over burping duties.
The whole scene feels surreal to him. It feels like a party is going on. There's pizza, and beer and Paris and her girlfriend shuffle in and the house is filled with laughter and he's the one on the outside. It was because of him that this group of people even knew each other and yet he doesn't feel like he belong. He's the odd man out.
Rory comes back downstairs with Richie in her arms and she's practically swarmed by the group of people wanting to get a quick peek at the boy. Finn is practically lording over Rory and it makes him laugh. Finn has always felt like Rory belonged to them, no matter that several of the people in this room knew her for way more year than he did.
She gently hands off the child to Logan. He feels an incredible pride in his chest every time he sees his son.
"He missed you." She says.
"And I him."
"Luv, here's a drink." Finn says as he hands her a glass.
"I can't drink yet Finn."
"As if I'd ever let you have another drink again. It's cider."
She laughs and kisses her son on the forehead before leaving him alone with Logan and walking off with Finn.
Logan watches the scene going on around him. Lane and Zach are laughing with Paris and Colin and across the room Robert is trying and failing to hit on Paris's girlfriend and outside on the patio Finn and Rory are talking and smiling. He doesn't know exactly where to go so he opts for some alone time with his son.
Upstairs he sits in the chair and hold Richie. He spends a long time up there. He's honestly not sure how long he's been there when his phone vibrates in his pocket. He shifts his son to the to the other arm and answers it.
"Huntzberger."
"Logan."
"Mom."
"I sure hope there's no one else under mom in your phone. Yes Logan it's your mother."
"What do you want I'm busy."
"We haven't heard from you since dinner."
"I thought I made myself clear that night. You won't be hearing from me."
In his arm his son fusses, clearly feeding off the negative vibes from the phone call.
"Are you? Is that? Is that my grandson?" She says like it's some foreign concept.
"Yes it is and I'm spending time with him so I'd really better go."
"Logan? Can I see a picture of him?"
"Seriously mom? You and dad practically signed away my parental rights and now you want some pictures to show off at the club?"
"That was your father, not me."
"You were practically having a heart attack over the prenup."
"You just caught me off guard Logan. I had no idea you were even still in touch with that girl."
"Rory. Her name is Rory and right now I'm not any where near confortable with you or dad having anything to with Richie."
He looks up as Rory enters the room.
"I've got to go mom. Goodbye." He closes his phone. "Sorry, she just has a way of getting to me."
"They know about him?" She says confused.
"Of course they know."
"I had no idea."
"Yeah, well it didn't go over too well as you can expect with heir Huntzberger. But I don't really care Rory."
"Did he take away your T-Bird?" She laughs and leans against the door frame.
Logan chuckles and he smiles, "He tried but the pink slip belong to me now so really all that happened was he yelled himself out of a grandchild."
"Wow. Can't say I'm surprised though."
"Me either. But I meant what I said, Rory none of this was meant to be a secret. I just never knew where we stood enough to make something out of nothing, you know, he's nothing I'm ashamed of. I plan of being a huge part of his life. I plan of being a permanent fixture."
"Anything you can do Logan."
"Stop with the placating me, please. Can I assume that we are going to agree to shared custody? Or is the already bad situation going to get worse?"
"Of course! He's your son. I would never keep him from you."
"Thanks."
"You've been up here for a while. You ok?"
"I'm good."
"Than come downstairs and have a drink. They boys are missing their fearless leader."
"It's ok. I have plans with O."
"Ok then, just make sure you turn on the monitor when you put him down. Have a good night Logan."
"You too Rory."
She backs out of the room and goes back downstairs. 15 minutes later Logan heads downstairs. No one in the room even sees him. They are all engrossed in the movie playing on the television that has been moved in from another room. They are all camped out on the floor laughing and talking. He makes brief eye contact with Rory who nods from her position with her legs draped across Finn and he leaves the house quietly.
He drives home, Phil Collins playing on the radio. His life isn't there anymore. It's in New York and it's with O.
Anytime you want to you can turn me onto
Anything you want to, anytime at all
When I kiss your lips, ooh I start to shiver
Can't control the quivering inside
Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me got a groovy kind of love, oh
The last 9 months have gone buy in blur. Richie will be one in two days and there is no way in hell Rory is ready. His first b-day party is going to be tomorrow but tonight is Friday and as is tradition in this Gilmore house that means it's Friday Night Family Dinner time. Though in Rory's tradition the definition of family is not the same as her grandmothers.
She doesn't have servants, or maid, except a cleaning lady to come in once a week and keep the unused rooms clean and aired out. So she's got Richie in his activity center sitting in the kitchen while she cooks dinner. Her mom is supposed to be here soon to help, so when there's a knock at the door she simply yells for the knocker to come in.
"This food smells almost yummy enough to eat."
She looks up, as the voice is not her mother. "Finn! You're early."
"The way you look in that apron, I'm glad I've got you all to myself."
She looks down at the dirt and stain covered mess hanging around her neck, "I'm covered in stains and egg whites?"
"Like I said.. Hello you dirty girl?" He playfully snarls as he smack her on the ass and leans down to kiss Richie. "Hello my boy."
The baby smiles back at him and tries to show Finn the fish hanging from the activity center.
"I brought some scotch."
"Shock." She laughs.
"Ok." He takes off his jacket and rolls up his sleeves. "Put me to work darling."
"You can take the potatoes off the fire and start mashing them."
There's a knock at the door and he excuses himself to answer it before starting the spuds. He returns only a few moments later with Lane and Zach and the boys in tow.
"I didn't know you got a butler."
"I prefer to call him a Valet."
Next to her Zach already has Richie in his arm and their kids have already taken off to the playroom she created for the numerous kids now in her life. She hugs him and Lane and then immediately ticks off a job for Lane. Lane and Finn have become great friends and it with great pleasure that she watches the playful banter between two of her best friends.
The next hour fills her kitchen with Paris and Janine (they have now made the coupling official) Colin and Robert, and Lucy and Olivia, and their boyfriends, her grandmother, Jess and Cassidy and even Honor and Josh and their kids.
It's been so wonderful to have Honor back in her life. She was always one of the benefits of being with Logan. His parents were the antichrist but Honor was such a help. She had been shocked to get the call from her. Apparently Logan had told her and she decided that she no longer needed his ok to call Rory since there was a baby, her nephew involved. They'd had a few long, uncomfortable conversations about how it had been after she'd said no, but the women worked through it. So when these dinners started to become a regular thing Rory had immediately invited them.
The whole thing had immediately clicked. This group of people just got her and they loved her and they came to love each other.
"Ok, did the hell freeze over?" Rory turn from her current conversation to see her mother standing in the kitchen. "Is Emily Gilmore COOKING?"
"I know how to cook Lorelei."
"I just never thought I see the day you actually did any."
Rory goes to hug her mom. "Dinner's almost ready. As you can see I got help, since you didn't show up."
"Blame Luke."
"Blame me for what?" He says coming to stand next to her mom.
Finn grabs a beer and hands it Luke. "He was fighting with Taylor."
"Again, Luke?" Rory smiles.
"Sometime I do it just for sport." He takes a swig of the beer.
Another knock at the door takes Rory away from the crowd and into the foyer. She opens the door to find Logan standing there.
"Logan?" She says.
It feels like her life with him was a hundred years ago. He takes Richie Sunday through wed morning and they, she, Logan and Odette had worked it all out. They alternate holidays, and mostly she and Logan speak cordially, and rarely. He has his life and she has hers. So it was surprising to see him here on a Friday and unannounced.
"Love, I think the food is almost done, and Zach has taken over the griller." Finn says as he walks in carrying Richie who is chewing on Finn's finger.
"Finn?" Logan questions.
"My boy are you here for dinner?"
"Dinner?"
"Logan, it's so good to see you!" Honor runs at him and hugs him into the foyer.
"Honor?"
"Hey baby brother. Can you believe this amazing boy is almost one? I can't wait for the party tomorrow. Elias is so happy to share his birthday party."
"What are you guys doing here?"
"Friday dinner silly."
He looks at Rory. She asks them to leave them alone. He hears the clatter of dishes and laughter from more people in the other room, catches a glimpse of Jess and a few others.
"Guess my invite got lost in the mail."
"It's just Friday Dinner."
"If I remember correctly those were historically family dinners."
"They still are. Everyone here is family."
"I see." He says as he looks around.
"I didn't think you'd want to come. I mean you and Odette have your own thing going on."
"It's ok. It's fine. I just wanted to see if you needed anything last minute for tomorrow."
"I've got it all, and the last few things Finn is picking up in the morning."
He nods his head. "Ok then. Have a good dinner."
He walks back out the door, "Hey, Logan." She calls.
"Yeah?" He turns back to her.
"I really figured you and Odette wouldn't want to come."
"You know," he clicks his car alarm and opens the door "I thought that the fact that we have Richie made us family. My mistake. I'll see you tomorrow."
He closes the door and starts the car before she can say anything in response.
When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do
Is take a look at you, then I'm not so blue
When I'm in your arms, nothing seems to matter
My whole world could shatter, I don't care
Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me got a groovy kind of love
Saturday morning comes and goes in a flourish. Finn and the boys set up the outside area with tables and lighting for later in the evening. Inside Rory has relinquished control of the kitchen over to Sookie for the days food and cake. So she and Lane fuss over the decoration and drink some wine.
"So what did Logan want last night?"
"See if we needed anything for today."
"And that's all?"
"Yep."
"Riiiiight."
"What?"
"I'll bet he wasn't too happy about seeing everyone here."
"He made his choice Lane."
"Lets be real about this ok Rory. You are and always will be my best friend, but his only choice left was to not be your second choice."
The front door bell chimes stop Rory from going any further into it. She opens the door to find Logan and Odette standing in dozens of Balloons.
"I couldn't help myself Rory. I loved them all and couldn't make up my mind and I just thought, what the hell he can have them all." Odette says in a rush as she pulls in the dozen of balloons shaped as truck and monkeys, and various other designs.
She walks in trailed by Logan who carries a bag of presents. "Rory." He says as a hello.
The guests all begin arriving and since Sookie is in full command of the kitchen Rory spends her time mingling with all the guests. Richie is passed around just like Elias and the one-year-old babies were given more then enough love from everyone in attendance. They day is hectic but fun and as it rolls into night Finn lights the outdoor fire pits.
Emily asks if she can put Richie to bed and Lorelei and Luke take an early leave since he has to open the diner in the morning. The rest have all retired to the back patio to talk and laugh. Odette is talking to Paris and it's making Logan smile to see how frustrated Paris is getting at O's easy going attitude about life. Paris just gets more and more flabbergasted and O and Janine just laugh harder.
"You did good with that boy of your." Jess says.
Logan turn to face the man, "She did good." He nods toward Rory who is once again in conversation with Finn.
Her and Finn being so close all the time is starting to really grate on his nerves.
"That she did."
"You know you're an idiot right?"
"Excuse me?" Logan says to man next to him.
"I mean you had her. You had that beautiful woman and you let her walk away."
"I didn't LET her do anything. At lest I fought for her while, you just walked away."
"Hey, no harm no foul man. You're right. I did. But then she never loved me the way she loves you." He pats Logan on the shoulder and walks away.
To his right Rory laughs out loud. Finn is just being Finn but as he touches her leg it makes Logan want to kill him. Back when they had first met he'd always been a bit irritated at the way Robert looked at her, hell that ass had even taken her on a date, but as they grew closer he saw he had nothing to worry about with Robert. She looked at him like a little brother, but Finn and her had connected. As he and Rory fell in love she and Finn became family too. He knew that Finn had been furious with him for the dumbass ultimatum, because he knew he would lose her too.
Logan had suspected that even though Finn had never said anything that if nothing had started between he and Rory that Finn would have gladly stepped in. So its frustrating Logan to no end that Finn has the freedom to be a part of her daily life. To touch her, to hold Richie, to come to goddamn Friday dinners.
"Can I talk to you?" He says as he approaches the couple.
"Logan, sure." She says as she leaves Finn at the table.
"What's up?"
Once they are far from the crowd he says, "Do I need to be worried about Finn?"
"Worried about Finn? What are you talking about?"
"He's here for Friday dinner, he's always holding Richie, and you two are practically attached at the hip."
"I'm not sure where this is coming from, but I'm fairly certain that you're married to that woman over there that is now watching us, and that it's really none of your business who I date, regardless of if it's Finn or not."
"Whose dating me, Love?" Finn says walking by.
"Apparently I am. At lest that's what Logan thinks."
"Mate?" Finn questions.
"Just leave us alone Finn. Please." Logan says.
"Love?" Finn asks Rory.
"It's fine Finn." She nods and Finn walks away.
"Logan, what's the problem here, huh? You are married. I told you I loved you and you said it didn't matter. We've barely spoken more then two sentences to each other this past year and now you have a problem with me dating someone?"
"So you are dating?"
"That's not what I'm saying."
"Then what are you saying?"
"I'm saying I don't know why you care."
"Are really that daft? I love you don't you get that. I have always, always loved you but when it comes down to it I never quite know how much you love me. Yeah I married O, but it took that to make you tell me you loved me and still you never fought for us. You just let me go."
"What did you expect me to do Logan?"
"I don't know Ace."
"You called me Ace. You haven't called me that in almost a year."
"You'll always be my Ace. Maybe that's the problem. I want you to be someone you're not."
She steps towards him and lays a hand on his chest. He is stalk still, "I have loved you and lost you Logan and I have an everyday reminder that the man I love, loves someone else. I don't know what you want from me. I don't know how to show you that I love you in a way that's anything close to what I feel. I have kept my distance. I have been respectful, because I thought that this was what you wanted. Maybe it's not."
She steps back and checks to make sure that Odette isn't watching them. "Just remember that you asked for this." She leans in and kisses him on the cheek and he suddenly can't catch his breath because it's the first time in almost a year that he's been able to inhale that scent that is so familiarly her.
She walks away and Logan is unable to move. He feels like he's unintentionally started something and right now he's not sure which way he hopes it ends.
We got a groovy kind of love
We got a groovy kind of love, oh
We got a groovy kind of love
*Lyrics are Groovy Kind of Love by Phil Collins
