Special thanks to AnimalLuv for telling me how to post this update. FanFic appears to be having some technical deficulties. I've been trying to update since yesterday and without AnimalLuv's guidance on the matter, who knows how much longer you would have been kept waiting?
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 16 – Conditions and Confessions
"You're not going."
"But Daddy…"
"Don't 'but daddy' me," said Christopher gravely. "You're not going and that's final. No amount of pouting, whining or begging is going to change my mind."
"But Daddy…"
"No," he said sternly. "You. Are. NOT. Going. End of discussion."
Rory shifted her gaze to her mother silently begging her to intervene. The bulk of the evening's dinner conversation had consisted of Rory and Christopher arguing about the impending trip to Martha's Vineyard. Normally, Rory's pleading eyes were enough to get her father's permission to do anything—not this time. If Christopher got his way, Rory would remain locked up in her bedroom—away from Logan—until she was thirty.
Lorelai gave her daughter a sympathetic look. She knew why her husband was acting the way he was. Rory was his little girl and seeing her in Logan's arms was too much of a shock for him. She empathized with him, she really did. However, she also knew Christopher was operating under a complete double standard. He would never even think about forbidding their son from going anywhere just because his girlfriend would be there (not that Kevin actually had girlfriends). And for that reason, she was not going to let him stop Rory from going to the Vineyard. If anything, Rory was far more trustworthy than Kevin. "Christopher," began Lorelai, "aren't you being a tad harsh? They want to go to the Vineyard not Reno."
"Lor, you can't seriously be considering this."
"I don't see what the big deal is."
"The big deal is Logan will be there."
"So what?" asked Lorelai. "If they stay in Hartford, he'll be here too."
"Yeah, but so will we," pointed out Christopher.
"We trusted her enough to let her move to London by herself when she was only fourteen. Why would we not let her go to the Vineyard for a few days? For God's sake, Christopher, she's eighteen years old?"
"I swear if I have to hear how old Rory is one more time, I'm going to scream," he declared as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "And as far as letting her move to London, that's hardly the same thing. She went to there to get an education."
"I'm sure Logan would be happy to teach her a few things while we're at the Vineyard, Dad," added Kevin with an amused smirk. Christopher looked truly horrified at that statement and Rory and Lorelai sent him identical icy glares.
"Stay out of this," snapped Rory.
Kevin chuckled lightly and held his hands up in a mock surrender. This was by far the most entertaining dinner discussion he'd witnessed in a long time. With him away at Yale, and Rory off at boarding school, there hadn't been many family dinners recently. He missed them. Kevin knew his previous comment did nothing to ease his father's mind, but he couldn't help himself. It was altogether too amusing to see that vein in Christopher's temple throb. It was doubly amusing because for once, it wasn't because of something he did. Besides, Kevin wasn't worried about getting Christopher's permission to go to the Vineyard. In the end, he knew he'd be able to talk his father into it—especially once he explained the reason behind the trip. One way or another, he was going to get Rory out of Hartford and away from Tristan. And if it were up to him, the whole group would be on their way by morning.
"Rory, I know this seems unfair," said Christopher, "but trust me, I'm doing this for your own good."
"You're not doing this for her own good," argued Lorelai. "You're doing this for your own good. Why let Kevin go and not Rory?"
"Because."
"Because what?"
"Because I can," answered Christopher. "Rory's not going on vacation with her boyfriend."
"And Kevin?"
"What about him?"
"Are you letting him go?" asked Lorelai.
"He can go if he wants."
"There are girls on Martha's Vineyard you know. I doubt your son will be running away from them."
Christopher heard Kevin chuckle, but chose to ignore him. "That's his prerogative," he answered.
"Christopher," yelled an exasperated Lorelai. "You're being a total sexist jerk. Can you see passed that double standard you're living behind?"
"Double standard or not, I'm protecting my daughter and that's all I care about."
"Dad," interrupted Rory. She hated to see her parents fight and she could tell her mother was about to lose it. "What other reason do you have for not letting me go besides the fact that Logan will be there?"
"I think Logan being there is enough of a reason."
"No, it's not," yelled Rory and Lorelai in unison.
Christopher looked at the angry and determined faces of his wife and daughter and sighed knowing he had a long battle ahead of him.
"Christopher, I think you're overreacting to this whole thing," stated Lorelai.
"Well, Lor, I think you're under-reacting to this whole thing. I am not about to let my only daughter go away with her boyfriend on some wild, un-chaperoned vacation of debauchery."
"It won't be entirely un-chaperoned. Kevin will be there," pointed out Lorelai.
"Oh yeah that really makes me feel a lot better," said Christopher dryly.
"Hey!" said Kevin. "I'm sitting right here, Dad."
Without acknowledging his son, Christopher continued to stand his ground. "You expect me believe Kevin would be a suitable chaperone?" he asked chuckling. "Is that really the best you two can come up with?"
"You do realize I can hear you right, Dad?" asked Kevin. Honestly, he was a little offended.
Christopher cocked an eyebrow at his son before turning his attention back to his wife and daughter. "Kevin is not exactly the most responsible person in the world."
"I know, but Rory is," argued Lorelai.
"Oh my God!" yelled Kevin. "Am I invisible?" he asked waving his hands in his parents' faces. "You both realize I'm sitting right here and can hear every word you say right?" He then turned to his sister and in a bitter and sarcastic tone said, "I always knew they liked you better."
Rory smiled smugly.
Lorelai and Christopher laughed, both grateful for the minor release of tension.
"We love you to the same, Kevin," said Lorelai in a sugary sweet voice.
"Oh so you can see me," kidded Kevin. "I was worried there for a second."
"It's not that I don't trust you, Kevin," began Christopher.
"It's not?" he asked.
"Of course I trust you, son," defended Christopher. "It's just that…"
"You don't trust Rory?" interrupted Kevin.
"Of course I trust Rory," insisted Christopher. "It's Logan I don't trust."
"What has Logan ever done do deserve that?" asked Rory in defense of her boyfriend. "You've always liked Logan."
"Yeah, until about half an hour ago when I opened my front door and caught him defiling my daughter."
"Defiling? Daddy, he was just kissing me good night," argued Rory.
"Same thing."
"It is not the same thing."
"It is to me, Rory," said Christopher. "I'm sorry, but I've made my decision. As long as Logan will be there, you will not be going to the Vineyard."
"But Daddy…"
"Enough," said Christopher sternly. "I've had enough of this. The subject of Rory going to the Vineyard is off limits for the remainder of the evening. Is that clear?"
"But Daddy…"
"But Christopher…"
"Is that clear?" asked Christopher in a tone of voice that made it clear to both Rory and Lorelai they weren't going to get anywhere right now.
The two female members of the Hayden household glared angrily at Christopher, but wisely remained silent.
It was then that Kevin took the opportunity to get out of his seat. "Dad, can I talk to you in private for a minute?"
Christopher eyed his son warily. "What about?"
"I just need a minute, Dad," he answered as he headed out of the room.
Christopher sighed, but decided to follow Kevin in order to get away from a seething Rory and Lorelai.
As soon as the two were out of earshot, Rory turned to her mother and complained, "Mom, this is so unfair."
"I know, sweetie."
"Daddy's being ridiculous."
"I know, sweetie."
"There's no reason why I shouldn't be allowed to go."
"I know, sweetie. I'll talk to him."
"What are you going to say?"
"I don't know," answered Lorelai gravely. "But I'll think of something. Don't worry, I'll talk him into it…somehow." She added that last part under her breath. Lorelai had never seen Christopher so determined against something. He was normally so easy going. The two sat there in silence, picking at their food.
Several minutes passed before Kevin and Christopher returned. "All right you can go," said Christopher out of nowhere.
Rory stared at her father in shock. "What?"
"You heard me," he answered as he reclaimed his seat. "You can go to the Vineyard."
Rory couldn't believe what she was hearing. She looked to her mother only to see that Lorelai was as surprised as she was. Kevin, however, had a smug grin on his face. He winked at Rory before picking up his fork to finish eating.
"Really?" asked Rory slowly.
Christopher sighed. "Yes, but I have a few conditions."
"Ok," agreed Rory.
"Condition number one: You and Logan are never, and I repeat never, to sleep under the same roof, let alone the same room, or God help you, the same bed."
"Got it," said Rory with a nod of her head.
"I mean it Rory. You will be sleeping in your room at your grandparents and Logan will be sleeping down the beach at his parents' house. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Daddy."
"Kevin, you'll be keeping an eye on the two of them."
"I'll keep both eyes on them, Dad," answered Kevin with a mock salute to his father.
Christopher rolled his eyes. "I mean it, Kevin. I'm trusting you to look out for your sister."
"Relax, Dad. I already said I would."
Christopher nodded before returning his attention to Rory. "All right, condition number two: Kevin's in charge."
"What?" asked Rory. There was no way she heard that right.
"You heard the man," said a smiling Kevin. "I'm in charge. That means I'm the boss of you," he teased.
"No way," declared Rory. "Daddy, you can't be serious."
"Either you listen to Kevin or you don't go," stated Christopher.
Rory looked disbelievingly at her father's determined expression before turning desperately to her mother for some assistance. Lorelai merely shrugged her shoulders knowing it was already a miracle that Christopher agreed to let her go. Rory couldn't stand the smug look on Kevin's face, but knew she shouldn't push her luck. Begrudgingly, she nodded in agreement. "Fine. Kevin's in charge."
"Damn straight," said Kevin.
"Kevin," warned Christopher.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"Condition number three," continued Christopher, "you will not be spending all your time with Logan. Kevin will make sure of that. I don't like that you're the only girl going."
"Honor might be there," interjected Rory.
"Fine, but invite another girl along."
"Ok," agreed Rory happily. That actually sounded like a fun suggestion.
"Do you think Lane will want to come?" she asked her mother.
"I'm sure she would love to, Rory," answered Lorelai, "but I doubt Mrs. Kim would let her."
Rory nodded sadly. She hadn't seen Lane since Christmas.
"Condition number four: You will call to check-in with your mother and me on a regular basis."
"How regular?"
"Four times a day," said Christopher.
"Two," she countered.
"Three."
"Done," she agreed.
"Condition number five: There will be no drugs or alcohol."
Rory laughed. "Does that rule also apply to the person you're leaving in charge?" she asked.
"I don't like what you're implying, Rory," said Kevin innocently.
Christopher studied Kevin's expression for a moment and realized there was no way that condition was going to be enforced. "Fine. There will be no drugs and no excessive alcohol."
"Define excessive," said Kevin.
Christopher chuckled and said, "Take what Finn normally drinks and cut it in half."
Kevin thought about that for a moment and agreed. "Done."
"I'm serious, Kevin. I know it's your birthday weekend, but I expect you to act responsibly."
"When have I not been responsible?"
Christopher cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Ok, don't answer that. I'll behave. I promise."
Christopher shook his head and hoped his son's twentieth birthday would go down without the police getting involved. "Condition number six…"
"How many more conditions are there?" asked Rory.
"As many as I feel like," answered Christopher. "Condition number six: I reserve the right to change or add to these conditions as see fit. Are we clear?"
"Yes, Daddy," said Rory.
"Kevin?"
"Yes, Dad."
"All right," he said wiping his mouth and getting out of his seat. "When do you leave?"
Rory smiled brightly not believing he'd actually agreed. She made a mental note to thank Kevin for whatever he'd said to get their father to change his mind.
"Friday morning," answered Kevin. "Grandma says the house won't be ready until then."
"Ok. Well," he said wanting to change the subject, "what do you say we all watch a movie together?"
"Willy Wonka?" asked Lorelai and Rory in unison.
Christopher couldn't help but laugh. He missed having his whole family together and he was glad his two Lorelais were no longer giving him the evil eye. "Of course. I'll meet you all in the family room," he said as left the table. Lorelai smiled at Rory before following Christopher out. She wanted to get the scoop on her husband's sudden change of heart.
Rory waited a few seconds before squealing with delight and throwing her arms around her brother. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
Kevin gave her an affectionate squeeze. "You're welcome."
"How on earth did you did you do that?"
"I have my ways," he replied cryptically.
Rory gave him another hug. "You're the best, Kevin."
"I know."
"I love you. I love you. I love you."
Kevin laughed. "Love you too. Now let's make some popcorn."
Rory nodded in agreement and set off to find the air popper. "We can't keep Willy waiting."
Hours later—after watching both versions of Willy Wonka, a debate on the merits of Gene Wilder verses Johnny Depp, and a popcorn fight—Rory bid her family good night and headed up to bed. She walked into her dark room and locked the door behind her before turning the lights on.
"You're late," said Logan. He was sprawled out on her bed propping his chin up with both hands. He smiled at her in a way that made him look like a little boy. He was so adorable.
"You said midnight," she replied toeing her shoes off and sliding into bed next to him.
Logan rolled to his side so that they were facing each other. "It's 12:02," he said pointing to her furry clock.
"Awww…I'm sorry I'm late," she said playing along. Rory leaned into him and let her lips brush lightly against his. "Forgive me?"
Logan pulled her close and kissed her properly. "Just don't let it happen again." He rolled onto his back and wrapped his arms around her.
Rory snuggled into his side. "How was dinner with your parents?"
"Dull. How was dinner with your parents?'
"Not dull."
"Really? What happened?"
"Well, Daddy forbade me from going to the Vineyard."
"What?" he asked slightly panicking. He was really looking forward to this trip. "Are you serious?"
"Yup. He said I couldn't go as long as you were going to be there. I begged. I pleaded. I argued. I yelled. I even used the eyes," she informed him with a subtle bat of her lashes.
Logan chuckled lightly. "And?" he asked anxiously.
"And the man wouldn't cave—not even to my mother. It was bizarre."
"So you're not going?" he asked sadly.
Rory smiled. She couldn't help but be pleased at how disappointed he looked at the possibility of her not being able to go to the Vineyard. "No, I am. Oddly enough, Kevin came to the rescue and talked him into it."
"Really?" That was surprising. "How did he do that?"
"I don't know. Kevin wouldn't tell me. He and my father left the room for a few minutes and when they came back, Daddy said I could go."
"Interesting." Logan made a mental note to get the details of that conversation. He wondered if Kevin clued Chris in on the Tristan situation.
"Pending a few conditions of course."
"What sort of conditions?"
"I have to check-in regularly."
"Naturally," he replied as he began playing with her hair. He loved how soft it felt between his fingers.
Rory sighed, relaxing at his gentle touch. She continued, "No drugs or excessive alcohol—excessive being defined as half of what Finn normally drinks."
Logan seemed to contemplate that for a moment before nodding his head in agreement and saying, "That sounds about right."
"I have to invite another girl along. Even if Honor ends up coming, Daddy doesn't think there's enough of a balance. He wants to make sure I don't spend all my time with you."
"That doesn't sound too bad. I say the more the merrier, as long as we get to spend a lot of time together and as long as we get to end the day like this." Logan pulled her close and kissed her head.
"That's a condition too. It was actually condition number one. I sleep in my bed and you sleep in yours."
"Exactly how committed are you to obeying that rule?" he asked playfully.
"I had my fingers crossed when I agreed," she said giggling.
Logan laughed lightly. She was too cute. "Anything else?" he asked.
"Just one more thing…the worst thing. In order to make sure all the conditions are being met, Daddy put Kevin in charge" she added sadly.
"Oh boy," muttered Logan. "Kev's going to have way too much fun with that one."
"Tell me about it."
"Well, look on the bright side. At least he's letting you go right?"
"Yeah," she agreed.
"And conditions or no conditions, we'll get to spend a lot of time together."
"Yeah," she said smiling.
"On a beach," he reminded her.
"Yeah."
"Where you can relax as your handsome boyfriend rubs lotion all over your bikini clad body," he added wistfully.
Rory flashed him to a playful smile. "A bikini huh?"
"A baby blue string bikini," he specified.
"I don't own a baby blue string bikini," she informed him.
"You will by tomorrow, Ace."
"Will I now?" she asked giggling.
"Oh yeah," he said giving her a devilish smile.
"Are you picturing me in that bikini right now?" she asked letting her voice drop to a husky tone.
Logan watched as her eyes darkened with lust. He could feel his body began to react to her close proximity. "No," he replied seriously. "Right now I'm picturing you out of that bikini," he whispered as he began kissing the delicate skin on her neck. His hand had already snaked underneath her shirt and was caressing her back, sending tingles up her spine.
"Are you spending the night?" she whispered.
Logan stopped what he was doing and looked at her. He remembered what it felt like to fall asleep with Rory in his arms. He remembered what it was like to have her there when he woke up. He remembered and he loved it. "Do you want me to?"
"I like waking up next to you," she admitted.
"If Kevin or your father catches me here, I'm dead. And we can kiss going to the Vineyard goodbye."
Rory thought about that for a moment. She knew he was right. She knew they better not risk it, but she didn't care. "So we'll have to make sure they don't catch you," she said with a smirk.
Logan had to laugh. "You're a dangerous girl, Ace."
"It adds to my mystique," she whispered. "So you'll stay?"
"If you really want me to," he replied.
"I do."
"You do what?" he asked. Logan wanted to hear her say it.
"I want you to spend the night with me," she complied.
"As you wish," he whispered.
Rory smiled and treated him to a slow, lingering kiss. "I'm so glad I made you watch that movie."
Logan laughed against her skin. He was trailing kisses up and down her neck. Rory moaned in pleasure causing Logan to increase his efforts. He let his hands roam over her body, pausing to worship her luscious curves. To his surprise Rory moved out of his grasp and got off the bed.
"It's been a really long day," she whined over dramatically.
"Tired?"
"A little," she said with a pout.
Logan knew she was toying with him, but wasn't quite sure what she was up to. "Do you want to go to sleep?"
"Yeah," she answered biting her lip. "But first, I could really use a shower."
Logan sat there dumbfounded. His heart raced and his stomach hit the floor. "Did she just say shower?" He watched silently as his girlfriend walked toward her bathroom.
Rory made it all the way to the bathroom door before she turned to him, smiled and said, "You coming?"
"Hell yeah!" he thought. Without saying a word, he got off the bed followed her.
Rory eagerly shut the door behind him, locking it immediately. It did give an added sense of security to know that there were now two locked doors separating them from her family. "I've never really done this before," she said coyly.
"Showering with a guy?"
"Yeah, I'm a shower virgin," she admitted. "You'll have to talk me through it."
Logan smirked. Just when he thought this day couldn't possibly get any better, Rory offers to lose her shower virginity to him. "Well, let's see. First, you turn on the water."
Rory reached into the shower and turned it on, playing with the nozzle until the temperature was perfect. "Water. Check."
Logan smiled. This was going to be fun. "Next, you take off your clothes," he said as he sat on the marble vanity counter. "Slowly," he added. He was going to enjoy every second of this.
Rory licked her lips and locked her eyes on his as she reached for the hem of her shirt and slowly pulled it up to expose her midriff. She took a step back, making sure he could see all of her, before she pulled that shirt off over her head. His eyes remained fixed on her hands as she undid the button of her capris. She swayed her body ever so slightly as she pushed the material over her hips and down her legs.
Logan's breathing became ragged as she kicked her capris away. She stood before him in nothing but a lacey pink bra and matching panties. She was perfect and he could feel his body begin to react to that perfection. When Rory took a step toward him as she unfastened her bra and let it slide off her body, Logan got hard instantly. He loved her breasts.
"Can you help me with these?" she asked referring to the final stitch of clothing covering her body, a pair of lacy pink panties.
Logan hopped off the counter and happily complied. He stood in front of her, gripped the delicate material and lowered himself onto his knees taking the pink lace with him—pausing on his way down to kiss her neck, between her breasts, her bellybutton, and her hip. He rose, while she stepped out of her panties, and let his hands wander up her naked form.
"Naked. Check," she said with a playful nod of her head.
It was getting more and more difficult to think as more and more of his blood began to flow away from his brain to other, more important, parts of his anatomy. "Next, you take off my clothes."
"Well if you say so," she said smirking.
Logan stood idly as Rory pulled his shirt off. The mirrors in her bathroom afforded him a lovely view of his exquisitely naked girlfriend in every conceivable angle as she undressed him. If there was a heaven on earth, this had to be it. Logan suppressed a groan when her hand grazed his erection as she undid his belt. She let his pants fall, pooling at his ankles. He stepped out of them just as Rory reached into his boxers to stroke him once before pushing them down as well.
Without a trace of shyness or embarrassment, she looked him up and down. He was so beautiful. "Naked Logan. Check."
Logan grabbed her hips and spun them around so she was backed up against the counter. He effortlessly lifted her body off the floor and placed her naked form on the counter. Stepping between her legs, he began kissing her mouth, gently at first, but within seconds his instinct took over and their kisses turned hot and feverish. Before he realized what he was doing, he'd gripped Rory's thigh and hooked her leg around his waist.
She began to rub herself against him. Logan could feel the wet heat emitting from her center. "So when exactly do we get in the shower?" teased Rory.
"Any minute now, Ace," he assured her. Logan pulled her off the counter and led them toward the running water. By now the bathroom was a little steamy. Always the gentleman, Logan slid open the shower door and held Rory's hand as she stepped into the stall. He followed closely behind, slid the door shuts and watched as she stepped backwards into the water. Rory tilted her head back and let the hot water soak her hair and massage her scalp. Logan took that opportunity attack the exposed skin of her neck. The way her wet body felt against his bare skin was beyond amazing.
Rory wrapped her arms around his lower back, pulling him closer, and bring his erection into intimate contact with her body. She leaned into him, emitting soft moans and whimpers as Logan nipped at her neck. His hands were moving up and down her back soothing her muscles. He slowly maneuvered them within the confined space until her back was against the shower wall with the water coming at them from the side. Once her back hit the wall, Rory's leg automatically hooked itself around his waist. Logan's mouth moved north, grazing her jaw and nipping her ear before finding her lips in a steamy kiss that left both of them breathless and desperate for more.
"Logan," she panted, "I want…I want…"
"What is it, Ace?" he asked as he continued to ravage her body with his hands and his mouth. "What to you want?"
She couldn't answer. Truthfully, she didn't know what she was trying to say. Her body was reacting in a way that was completely foreign to her. "I…I don't know. I don't know what I want. I just…I want more."
Logan looked down at the girl in his arms. Her face spoke volumes. He saw desire, fear, passion, and vulnerability all in one expression. Not to mention lust…he saw so much lust in her eyes. "I'll give you anything you want, Ace. We can do whatever you feel you're ready for."
Rory saw the sincerity in his eyes. Her heart was racing, her mind was spinning, and her body was screaming for more. More what? She didn't know. Her feelings for Logan had always been so intense. Now that intensity was pouring into their newfound physical relationship. It was overwhelming. She couldn't find the words, any words to let him know how she felt. So, she did the only thing she could do. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him…over and over. Logan was only too happy to let that kiss go on forever.
The two finished their shower in relative silence. They spoke in their touches and kisses and the way they looked into each other's eyes. When they finally exited that shower stall, it was like they were totally different people. Something had happened in those precious minutes that changed them.
Rory pulled on flannel pajama bottoms and a tank top and loaned Logan some sweat pants to sleep in. They climbed into bed and snuggled next to each other. Suddenly, Rory flipped over so that her chin was resting on his bare chest. She looked into his face and asked, "How many girls have you had sex with?"
Logan's eyes went wide. He was not expecting that. "Uh…where is this coming from?" he stupidly asked.
"It's coming from me," she replied, "the ravishing creature before you." Rory knew she'd caught him off guard, but she wanted to know.
"Why are you asking me this now?" He hadn't meant it to sound defensive, but he couldn't help himself.
"I didn't mean to spring it on you like this. I probably should have eased into the question a bit more gradually," she explained, "but what can I say? I'm a reporter and a good reporter is one that asks the good questions so I figured I'd get right into it. So how many are we talking?"
Logan had to laugh at that mini rant. "That's my Ace," he said placing a soft kiss on her head. He took a breath before he continued. "I don't have an exact number," he admitted honestly.
"How about a rough estimate?" she persisted.
Logan let out a sigh. He was far from comfortable with this line of questioning. "Ace…look…I'm…I don't…" He couldn't make himself tell her. He knew that no matter what number he came up with, it would hurt her. It would hurt them. He didn't want that.
Rory sensed his discomfort. "Logan, I'm only asking because…because…" She was having just as much trouble finding her words.
"Because what, Ace?"
Rory took a deep breath. They needed to get through this conversation. And the only way to get through this conversation was to say what she needed to say no matter how uncomfortable the topic was. "Because there was a moment in there, while we were in that shower, when I just wanted to…to…"
"To what?" he encouraged.
"I wanted you so much," she admitted barely above a whisper. "My body was screaming to just let you have me…right there…in my shower. No muss. No fuss. I wanted you so much. It scared me."
"You were scared? Ace, I would never…"
"No," she interrupted. "Not scared at the possibility of us having sex. Believe me that doesn't scare me."
He smiled.
"I was scared because we've only been together for a few days. I shouldn't feel this much for you. But I do. And that scares me."
He understood exactly what she was feeling. He'd never felt for anyone what he felt for Rory. "I know what you mean, Ace. I never thought I could feel like this about anyone. And you're right, it does seem really fast. We have only been together a few days, but I think you're forgetting one key thing."
"What's that?"
"It's not like we're strangers. We didn't just meet. We grew up together. We've known each other our whole lives. So that whole getting to know each other stage wasn't really necessary for us."
She smiled.
"I know you."
"You do?" she asked playfully.
"Yes, I do. I know that in the morning, your first cup of coffee has to be pitch black."
She gazed into his eyes.
"I know you always carry a book with you no matter where you're going."
She reached for his hand.
"I know that if you're not fed properly every few hours, you get grumpy."
She touched his fingers.
"I know that when you were eight years old you found a stray kitten and hid it in your closet for a week before Lorelai found out."
She laced their fingers together.
"I know how hard you cried when it ran away."
She kissed the back of his hand. "You helped put up flyers," she reminded him.
"One on every tree and every telephone pole in the city," he said laughing at the memory. "Me, Kevin and Colin searched everywhere for that damn cat."
"I remember," she said smiling up at him.
"None of us could stand how sad you were. You were crying all the time. It was painful for us. And then I made the mistake of offering to buy you a new kitten."
She smiled. "And that just made me cry even harder."
"I felt awful. I wanted to find that kitten for you so badly. I begged my dad to run the cat's picture in one of his newspapers."
Rory couldn't help but laugh. "And he actually did."
"I was very persuasive. Even then I was a sucker for those eyes," he admitted smiling down at her.
"That was the first time I got my name in the newspaper," she said smiling brightly.
"And a legend was born, Ace." He placed a light kiss on her lips. "You see? I know you. And you know me. So this thing with us, I know it's intense, but don't be scared of it. Cause it's us, you and me, Ace."
She leaned forward and kissed him. "You still haven't answered my question," she pointed out.
"Noticed that did you?"
"Yup."
"Why do you need to know?" he asked continuing to stall.
"Because I assume you want to," she explained, "with me."
He smirked at her. "That's a pretty safe bet."
"And I want to," she said blushing, "with you…eventually. So I think I have a right to know."
"Yeah, I guess you do," he agreed. He took a deep breath. "I was always careful," he assured her.
"Ok."
"And these girls…it's not like what we have," he explained. "They didn't mean anything to me."
"How many, Logan?" she asked again.
"And there haven't been as many as people say," he defended.
"How many, Logan?"
He was getting really nervous. "Because you know how people around here talk."
"How many?"
"I mean I've heard stories about myself that are just complete fabrications and…"
"Logan," she interrupted in a stern voice, "please just answer the question. How many?"
"About thirty," he mumbled.
Rory gave a slight gasp. "Thirty?"
"Give or take. I don't have an official score card or anything, but it's about that many," he said. Logan watched her carefully. He knew her mind was in overdrive so he thought it best to stay silent. He didn't realize it, but he was holding his breath, just waiting for her to say something…anything.
After what seemed like an eternity to Logan, but in reality was roughly two minutes, she finally spoke. "Ok."
"Ok?"
"Ok," she repeated. "Thirty. Ok."
"I'm sorry, Ace. I'm going to need a little more than that." He couldn't tell if she was angry or freaked out or what.
"I'm ok," she promised. "Like I said before, your past doesn't matter to me. It's water under the bridge remember?"
"Yeah," he said slowly.
"It doesn't matter how many girls there've been. What matters is that we're together now."
"Really?"
"Absolutely," she assured him.
"It doesn't bother you?" he asked skeptically.
"Well, obviously, I would prefer if it was less than thirty. But they're all in the past. And I can't change the past so I'm not going to let it get to me." She remained silent for a few seconds and Logan could tell something else was on her mind.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Nothing," she said avoiding his gaze.
"Ace."
"It's nothing."
"Come on, Ace. Just spit it out."
For a while, he thought she wasn't going to say anything. But then she asked, "Does it bother you that I've never had sex?"
"What? Of course not. Why would it?"
"Because you've had sex…a lot of it. I just…I don't want to…not measure up…to what you're used to," she answered truthfully. "I just don't want you to be disappointed if I'm not…good at it."
"Ace," he began. He couldn't believe she would even think that. "There is no way you could be bad at it."
"You don't know that," she said blushing.
"Trust me, I do. Based on what we've done so far, there is absolutely, positively no way in hell you would be less than magnificent."
Her cheeks burned a bright red. "Yeah?"
"Trust me."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him until the tension between them began to melt.
"So we're ok?" he asked. Honestly, he was terrified of what telling her about his past might do to them.
"We're more than ok. My knowing isn't going to change things between us. I just…I needed to know…for me."
"I understand. You should know. I think it's important that you do. And as surprised as I was that you asked me, I'm kind of glad you did."
"Are you now?" she said in a teasing voice that made him smile. They both felt the last of that tension leave the room.
"Yes, I am. We were going to have this conversation eventually and I'm glad we had it now before we…" He stopped himself.
"Before we had sex," she finished the sentence calmly.
"Yeah," he whispered.
"That's nice. I like that."
"What?"
"That we both know it's going to happen. That we both want it to happen. And that it doesn't scare me. That us having sex is something I'm really looking forward to…and not this thing hanging over us." An image of Tristan flashed through her mind when she said that last part. Her eyes glossed over a bit.
"He didn't deserve you," said Logan reading her mind.
Rory buried her face in his neck. "We should probably get some sleep."
"Yeah," he agreed. "One of us has to sneak out of here at the crack of dawn."
Rory smiled and reached over to shut the light off. The two moved so Logan was spooning her. "Good night, Logan."
"Night, Ace."
They laid in silence for a few minutes before Rory spoke again. "Hey, Logan."
"Yeah," he replied not opening his eyes.
"I'm sorry I never thanked you."
"For what?"
"For offering to buy me a new kitten."
For a while he didn't say anything. "Don't be sorry."
"Why?" she asked yawning.
"Because it was wrong of me to offer to replace it. You loved that cat. It wouldn't have been the same." He yawned. Logan pulled her closer and breathed in her scent. He was not accustomed to falling asleep next to someone, but he could definitely get used to this.
"Why do you say that?" she mumbled. Her eyes were closed and she was already half asleep.
"You can't replace something you love, Ace. A new cat wasn't going to make you feel better. It wouldn't have helped you forget your first one, the one you really wanted."
Rory leaned back into his embrace. She never felt safer than when she was in Logan's arms.
"It's a good thing I didn't just go out and buy you a new kitten. Poor thing would have just been a stand-in."
Just a stand-in? For a second time that night, an image of Tristan flashed through her mind.
To AnimalLuv,
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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