At 4:30 on Friday afternoon Christopher Hayden stood in front of his mirror and adjusted his tie. He smoothed his recently cut hair and adjusted the cuffs on his shirt. In an hour and a half he'd be seeing her, and he just wanted to look good. Dancers had to report an hour early, so he and Gigi were just getting ready to leave the house.
"Gigi!" he called, "are you ready to go?"
She came running down the hall wearing her costume. She was far too excited to understand that she could just wear regular clothes and change at the theater. "I'm ready Daddy!"
"Did you pack your bag for afterwards?"
"Yes. If I'm good can we get ice cream?" she asked.
"That's a possibility, why don't you ask your Aunt Lorelai?' he responded. He felt like a cad using his daughter, but he knew that Lorelai would probably not want to get dinner with him after the show, and spending two hours sitting next to her in silence wouldn't ease the feelings he had been having. He needed her. To talk to, to laugh with. At least Gigi would have a chance of getting her to go out for ice cream.
She nodded and ran out to the car. Christopher picked up her bag and called a quick thank you to Molly for helping Gigi get ready, he had no clue how to pin her hair up into a bun or apply stage make up. He was sure one of the other mothers at the theater would have done it, but he really didn't want to deal with the combination of lust and pity that accompanied them.
They reached the theater just in time, and Gigi ran off to join her classmates. He left Gigi's street clothes with one of the dance teachers and went to go find his seat. He knew he probably should have stuck around for a while to make sure everything was going smoothly, but he just couldn't handle making inane small talk. It entailed way too much polite detachment and he didn't think he could find it in himself to nicely tell a woman he wasn't interested. The way he was feeling right now he'd probably tell the unlucky lady to piss off because he was already in love with someone else, and that wouldn't be helpful.
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Once in his seat he took out his phone to send a text to Lorelai; L – Your ticket is at will call – C, and then closed his eyes to relax and wait. It wasn't long before his cell phone rang. He hoped it was Lorelai, but was equally glad when he realized it was Rory.
"Hey Dad!" she said when he answered.
"Hey Kid. How's the Sunshine State?" he asked.
"That's Florida Dad, we haven't been there yet." She laughed.
"I know, I know. I just thought you could use a laugh at my expense. How's California?"
"He showed up at the speech in Sacramento last night," she confessed.
"Did Stephanie warn you he was coming? It's Stephanie right?" he was trying to remember their conversation from the other day, but the anticipation of seeing Lorelai made things a little fuzzy.
"Yeah, it's Stephanie, but no, she didn't warn me. I did see her at the L.A. stop, and she would have mentioned it, so I don't think she knew," Rory explained.
"Well, how was it? Were there fireworks? Was it awkward?"
"Oh Dad," she started, "it was so awkward. He just showed up with flowers and coffee, demanding to take me to dinner. I was with Peter and he interrupted us, forcing me to acknowledge him."
"So, did you tell him off?" Christopher asked curiously.
"Sort of. I told him if he wanted to see me he had to call or email to set it up first. But, tonight we're going to dinner after the San Francisco speech, with Stephanie, Colin, Finn and Honor." Rory sighed loudly, and he could tell she was frustrated.
"I'm sorry kid. Do you feel differently about him than you thought you did?"
"Nope. I still love him and I still don't know if I'm strong enough."
"Well enjoy your dinner tonight and see where it leads. You don't have to make a decision right now or anything, see your friends, eat a nice dinner, and just don't worry about the rest. If it's meant to be, it'll work out." He tried to encourage her.
"You're right… I just can't help it."
Christopher looked up to see Lorelai walking across the room towards him.
"Well Kid, your mom's here, so I'm going to let you go, but good luck tonight," he said trying to rush his eldest daughter off the phone.
"What?!? Mom's there? Where are you?" she asked in a shocked tone.
"It's your sister's dance recital. She invited your mom." He hoped that the truth was convincing. Then it dawned on him, "she didn't mention she was coming?"
"It must have slipped her mind. Well I guess I'll let you go Dad. Love you."
He knew Rory would get to the bottom of this eventually so he just let it go for now. "Love you too Ror. Have a good time tonight," he said with a smile as he stood up to greet Lorelai.
"Hey Lore, you look great," he said as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. It was an old habit that he couldn't seem to break. Surprisingly she let him do it.
"You look good too. So how's Rory tonight?" she asked.
"How'd you know I was talking Rory?" he asked her.
"The 'Love you too Ror' kind of gave it away." She smiled.
"That could have been my great Aunt Aurora, who goes by Ror, you know," he told her teasing her.
"Christopher, I have met every single member of your family. You do not have an Aunt Aurora. The closest you have is an Aunt Trudie who makes my Aunt Totsie smell like heaven." She smacked him playfully on the arm. He feigned pain and rubbed his arm, then he crinkled his nose. "Remembering Aunt Trudie?" she asked with an evil look in her eyes.
"Thanks a lot Lore. Next time we're at a family event I'm going to make sure you get Totsied. At least twice."
"Ohhhh scary, I'd take a Totsie over a Trudie any day." She laughed. He loved her laugh. "So really, how's Rory?"
"She's doing okay. Still in California," he said not wanting to give anything away and break Rory's confidence.
"Yeah, she called me this morning to tell me about Logan showing up last night." Christopher nodded confirming that that's why she called him too.
"So, why didn't you tell her that you were coming here tonight?" he asked quietly. "It's not like you to keep things from her."
"It's no big deal. I just didn't want her to worry over nothing," she said as the house lights flashed. "The show is starting."
"Nothing?" he whispered. What did that mean? If it was truly nothing she would have mentioned it, wouldn't she?
She shushed him, and the lights went out to start the show.
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"She really did a great job," Lorelai said when the lights came up after the show.
"She sure did," Christopher enthused proudly. Gigi came running out from backstage and launched herself at her father.
"Daddy! Did you see me? How did I do?" she asked.
"You did great sweetie!" he exclaimed.
"You really did," Lorelai added.
"Aunt Lorelai! You came!" Gigi squealed.
"Of course I came, I told you I would."
"Could you see my 'sparkles' from where you were?" she asked.
Christopher and Lorelai nodded in unison. There probably wasn't a seat in the house that couldn't see Gigi's 'sparkles.'
Lorelai leaned into Chris and whispered, "The teacher wasn't too mad was she?"
He shrugged, "I don't think so, but you might be getting a call next year to do the costumes for all of the girls." She rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him. "Real mature Lore."
"I know you are, but what am I?" she retorted, and he laughed.
"Aunt Lorelai!" Gigi started, bringing the attention back to her, "can we go get ice cream?"
"That's up to your dad," Lorelai told her diplomatically.
"Daddy said I had to ask you," Gigi replied. "He said we could only go if you go with us."
"Chris?" she asked, arching an eyebrow at him.
"Gigi! I did not say that and you know it," he scolded.
"Sorry dad," she whispered.
"I said she should ask you, to see if you wanted to come along too," he explained. She gave him a wary look. "It's only ice cream, ColdStone™ is only a few blocks away." He tried to make her feel comfortable.
Instead of answering him she looked at Gigi. "What did you have for dinner G?" she asked.
"We haven't had dinner yet. I had to be here early," Gigi explained tentatively, probably hoping her chances of ice cream wouldn't be destroyed.
"Christopher, you can't feed your daughter ice cream for dinner!" she exclaimed, exasperated. "We'll go get dinner first, then ice cream." She gave Gigi a grin, and took her by the hand to lead her out of the theater. "Come on Daddy Warbucks, you're buying us dinner," she called to Christopher.
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An hour later the three of them were seated in a booth at the local Red Robin, and Gigi was chatting away happily at Lorelai sharing every detail of her life. Christopher leaned back and watched. The woman he loved completely absorbed by his daughter. This was the life he wanted. He was completely lost in his own world when he heard Lorelai calling for him.
"Earth to Christopher!"
He shook his head to clear the daydream, "Sorry, what was that?"
"Gigi's done with dinner, and I was wondering if you wanted to still go to the ice cream place, or if you wanted to just get dessert here," she explained.
"What do you think G? Is there something here that you'd like for dessert, or do you still want to go to ColdStone™?" he asked his daughter. At this exact moment a waiter passed with a very large slice of Mud Pie and Gigi was watching it pass in awe.
"Can I get that Daddy?" she asked pointing to the dessert.
"Only if you can convince Aunt Lorelai to share it with you. I think that's bigger than your head Gigi."
"Please Aunt Lorelai," she whined.
"You don't need to ask me twice," Lorelai told her.
A few minutes later the waiter brought the dessert and 3 forks. Christopher reached out to pick up his fork and Lorelai deftly snatched it, putting it out of his reach. He looked at her curiously. "There's barely enough here for me and Gigi, if you wanted some you should have ordered your own." This made Gigi giggle, and Christopher pick up the entire plate poising his face over the dessert to get a bite. "All right, all right, we'll share!" Lorelai said offering him a fork.
"Thanks for coming tonight Aunt Lorelai, I can't remember the last time we had this much fun!" Gigi had a smear of chocolate across her cheek.
"How did you manage to get out of Friday Night Dinner?" Christopher asked her.
"I told the truth. By the way, next week my parents are expecting both of you for dinner on Friday night." She rushed through the last part of her sentence hoping he wouldn't notice.
"Lore!" he whined
"Chris!" she whined back. "It's only fair, so just suck it up."
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After dessert, Christopher and Lorelai left the restaurant to head back to their cars, Gigi was asleep in her dad's arms.
"Thanks for coming tonight Lore," he said sincerely.
"I'd do anything for that kid," she said nodding down at Gigi.
"I'll call you-" he started, but was cut off by a sharp look from her, so he quickly amended, "I'll see you next Friday at dinner."
"Good night Christopher," she said and she bent down to kiss Gigi on the head.
"Good night," he said in return.
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It wasn't quite what he'd hoped, but Christopher Hayden had a good time, and he knew he'd be seeing her again.
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It was 4:30 on Friday afternoon and Logan Huntzberger was trying frantically to get out of his office. He had dinner reservations with Rory, and the rest of his friends, at 6:00, and he wanted to go home and get ready first. His phone just would not stop ringing. Finally at 5:00 sharp he slapped the Do Not Disturb button on his phone and dashed from his office, calling a quick "See you Monday" to his secretary. He was in the elevator before anyone could stop him to ask any more questions.
Five minutes into his commute he realized he'd never make it home and to the restaurant in time, traffic was just too bad, so he made a quick left and headed to the hotel where his friends were staying. Again he found himself pounding on Finn's door waiting for an answer, this time Colin answered with a towel wrapped around his waist.
"Hey Logan, I thought we were meeting you at the restaurant?" he asked suspiciously.
"I got stuck at work, and couldn't make it home and back in time, can I possibly use your room to freshen up a bit?" he asked. "And where's Finn?"
"Sure Miss Huntzberger you can freshen up here. Finn is probably at the pool trying to get the redheaded lifeguard to give him her number."
Logan shot Colin a dirty look for the Miss Huntzberger comment, but entered the room and headed straight for the bathroom all the same. Colin went to his room to get dressed, then called to him, "I'm going to go wrangle Finn, there's some lipstick in the drawer on the right dear!" Logan rolled his eyes and looked in the mirror. His usually artfully arranged hair was sticking up in all directions, so he ran water in the sink and began to rearrange his hair. Once he got his hair back in order he straightened his tie, hoping it would hide the small stain on his shirt caused by his morning cup of tea. He was again annoyed that he didn't have time to go home and change, but he knew that asking one of the guys to borrow a shirt would just be asking for further teasing.
"Logina!" Finn called as he entered the suite, "Where are you?"
"Ugh. Not you too Finn!" Logan shouted from the bathroom. "Are you guys ready to go?"
"Yeah Mate," Finn answered, "but why do you want to go so early?"
"I want to beat Rory to the restaurant," he said exiting the bathroom to find Honor and Stephanie waiting with the guys.
"Why?" Colin asked, "They won't seat her until the whole party is there."
"I know that, but they'll probably seat the 5 of us without her," he said.
"I don't understand Logan," Honor said. "Why does it matter?"
"I know Ace. She's coming tonight, not because I asked, or to see me, but to see all of you. If she's there before us, she'll wait in the bar. She won't ask to be seated, because then I could sit next to her. If we all sit down at the same time, you can bet she won't sit next to me. But, if we're all there first, the only spot left at the table will be next to me, and she's not the type that will ask someone to switch." Honor looked confused, and Finn and Colin looked annoyed, only Stephanie looked like she understood. Probably because it was a tactic she might employ herself.
"All right everybody, let's go," Stephanie said. They all headed down to the valet to get a car. Logan's car wouldn't hold 5 people, and neither would either of the rentals, so they used one of the hotel limos.
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They arrived at the restaurant a few minutes early, before Rory arrived, and the hostess, with a generous tip from Logan, seated them straight away. The only spot left at the table was next to Logan. They had just placed their drink orders when Rory arrived.
"Rory!" Stephanie called, waving her over to the table.
"Reporter Girl!" Finn called. He stood up to hug her and picked her up spinning her around. Logan wished he could be the one to do that, but knew after his experience yesterday that it would be a very bad idea.
"Finn!" she said breathlessly, "could you put me down please?" He obediently set her down. "Hey everybody," she smiled addressing the rest of the table.
"Hey Rory!" Stephanie and Honor said in unison.
"Hi," Colin said gruffly looking down at his menu. Logan had the urge to kick him under the table.
"Hey Ace," Logan said, standing up to pull out her chair. "Glad you could make it tonight." She gave him a small tight smile and took her seat.
"So what's good here?" she asked as she looked at the menu. Everyone at the table looked at Logan because he was the only one that lived in the area.
"No clue," he said, "I've never been here before." She looked up at him with surprise.
"If it doesn't come from a take out box, Logan probably hasn't tried it." Finn said from across the table. This caused Rory to raise and eyebrow at Logan, and Logan to shoot Finn a death glare and shrug at Rory. He didn't want Rory to know what her refusal had done to him.
"Rory, how's the campaign trail?" Stephanie asked. Logan glanced at her and gave her a grateful smile.
"It's good. A little tiring. I'm beginning to loathe the bus. But I've made a few friends, and I'm glad I took the job." Logan wondered exactly what kind of friends she had made.
"Honor, how's married life? How's Josh?" Rory asked.
Honor smiled before she answered, "Married life is great. Josh is just fabulous. I'm headed home to see him tomorrow. He wanted to come out here with us, but was stuck working."
"And Colin, are you enjoying your summer before starting law school? Are you staying at Yale for law school?" Rory asked. Logan could tell she was trying to catch up with everyone.
"Yeah, I'm going to Yale for law school. I'm trying to enjoy my summer, but my dad wants me in the office meeting people and getting experience," he grumbled, he was still looking down at his drink, refusing to meet her eyes.
The waitress arrived and took their order, after which Rory got up and excused herself to the restroom, and of course being girls, Stephanie and Honor followed suit.
"What the hell Colin?" Logan asked as soon as the girls were out of earshot. "You were the one on her side when you guys showed up at my house on Sunday."
"Yeah Mate, what's going on?" Finn chimed in.
"I just don't want you to get hurt again," Colin responded.
"That's my choice to make. But that's not why you're being an ass, so out with it." Logan told him.
"Fine. I like Reporter Girl. Don't get me wrong Logan, you're my best friend and I'll always be on your side, but I don't want to be friends with her again only to have to stop when decide this isn't what you want anymore." Colin looked down at his hands.
"I didn't ask you to choose," Logan said defending himself.
"Best friends shouldn't have to ask," Finn interjected supporting Colin.
"Well it's a moot point right now because I won't change my mind. This is what I want. She's who I want. So Colin, stop being an ass!"
"Fine," Colin said with a phony smile.
The girls returned to the table and conversation began to flow easier. When dinner arrived the conversation split up into smaller groups. Stephanie and Honor were discussing gossip from the Hartford Circle, and Colin and Finn were planning a Life and Death Brigade reunion event, which left Logan and Rory to talk.
"You're enjoying the campaign trail then?" Logan asked her.
"For the most part," she answered, "but it does get lonely at times."
"How's Lorelai doing with you being so far away?"
"She's doing okay. She's pretty wrapped up in her own life at the moment."
"Did she and Luke put things back together?" he asked. Despite the fact that Lorelai didn't really like him, he had nothing against her.
"They kissed at the graduation party the town threw for me. They're trying to put it back together, but Luke is still keeping her at arms length. He's not letting her get to know April, and keeping that huge part of his life separate, so I don't know if it'll actually go anywhere," she paused for a moment, then continued, "She's out with my dad tonight."
"Maybe Luke's right to keep her at arms length then?" Logan posited. Rory gave him a dirty look. "What? Isn't Christopher the reason they had problems in the first place?"
"No. Luke is the reason they had problems in the first place. Now that he has April, he should understand that Anna will never be out of his life, just like my dad will never be out of my mom's life," Rory explained. "Besides, she's just at Gigi's dance recital. It's nothing illicit."
"I guess I can see it that way," he conceded.
"Good. So how's the new job?" she asked.
"I really like it, it's great to be out from under Herr Huntzberger's thumb," he said. "I have some really great ideas, and the people here listen to me, not because they have to, but because I'm right."
"I knew you could do it Logan. I'm really happy for you," she told him. "How's everything else?"
"Lonely."
"Buck up Huntzberger, it'll get better." She smiled at him. A genuine smile, and at the moment, he could actually see his life getting better.
"Rory, I miss-" she cut him off by putting her hand over his mouth.
"Please don't Logan. Not now, not here." He nodded, accepting her wishes.
The waitress picked this time to show up and take empty plates and dessert orders.
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After dessert, coffee and after dinner drinks were consumed, the party headed for the door.
"Good night Rory! It was great to see you," Honor said, hugging her good-bye.
"Twice in one week Gilmore, I like it!" Stephanie said as she hugged Rory. "Keep in touch."
"You too," Rory told her.
"Bye Reporter Girl," Colin said as he hugged her.
"Why Colin, I'm shocked at such an outpouring of emotion from you," she teased as she hugged him back.
Finn just hugged her and drunkenly kissed her on the forehead. "Night Finn!" she called as he left the restaurant.
Soon all that remained were Logan and Rory. His friends had all made a point to say goodbye and leave, giving him a chance for the last word. He opened his arms to hug her. "Goodbye Ace," he said as she walked into his arms.
"You can email me when you get lonely Logan," she whispered in his ear.
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It wasn't quite what he'd hoped, but Logan Huntzberger had a good time, and he knew he'd be seeing her again.
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Author's Note: Still don't own Gilmore Girls, Matt Czuchry or David Sutcliffe. Sorry if it seems a little awkward, the only way I could think to get any Lorelai info in there was through a Rory/Logan conversation.
As always, thanks for the reviews, and I look forward to your feedback. Don't worry Miguel51, I know it looks like things are perking up for the guys, but there are more roadblocks to come.
Thanks for reading-
S