Disclaimer: I may have my own ideas about how I want their story to carry on, but sadly I do not own Gilmore Girls or these characters. If you're reading this, you too are a fan and know this already.
Logan's POV:
I wake up a few hours later. We're still lying on the couch. I don't know what time it is, but it's still dark outside and Rory is asleep. My neck is stiff and my right arm is numb from Rory lying on it. I don't think I've ever been happier in my life. I pick Rory up and slowly carry her to my bedroom. I gently lay her on the bed and take off her shoes. I send a quick email to Amanda and let her know that I won't be in the office tomorrow…today? I slip into bed beside Ace, pull up the covers and wrap my arms around her. My hand rests on her stomach. A baby. "I love you Ace" I whisper, and I fall back asleep.
Rory wakes with a start hours later and throws my arm off of her. She sits bolt upright. "Mitchum!"
"No… Logan. Looo-gan." I reply with a fake pout, pointing at myself. I glance at the clock, its already 8:30am.
"Logan, I'm serious! What about Mitchum! He is not going to let you break off your engagement, not if he wants to buy NMD!" Her face falls and she looks like she's going to cry again. All of a sudden she jumps out of bed and runs to my bathroom. I hear her retching and make my way into the bathroom as she is flushing the toilet. She is sitting on the floor. I grab a cloth and run it under cold water, then place it on the back of her neck as she rests her head on her arm.
Is this the baby? Or Mitchum "Are you okay" I ask her, concerned. "That's how I feel about Mitchum most of the time too" I try to joke with her. She groans. "Are you going to be sick again or can I carry you back to bed?"
"Just a second" she replies. She slowly stands up and makes her way over to the vanity. She opens the second drawer where I keep extra toothbrushes and I smile. It's something so small, but it feels so homey and I love that she is so comfortable here. I walk about behind her and put my arms around her waist from behind to help steady her while she brushes her teeth.
"Better?" I ask, and she nods. I pick her up and carry her back to the bed.
"I'm serious though Logan, what about Mitchum? If he has his way, you're going to have to stay here in London and marry Odette"
"Ace, please don't worry! I have a plan".
Flashback – 7 Weeks ago (Logan's POV)
"I think your days of rescuing me are over." She says to me with a sad smile on her face.
"You never needed rescuing, Ace. You know that."
"I do now." And with that she is gone. She walks out the door and I sink to the couch. No, this can't be happening. I can't lose her again. How can I make her see that we belong together when I don't even live in the same country as her anymore? An idea forms in my head, and I head out to meet the boys at the diner.
As I walk through the door and the bell jingles, announcing my arrival, I see Collin sitting in a booth in the back corner. Finn and Robert are sitting on the other side of the booth with their backs towards me. I make my way over to the booth and notice that all three guys look as heartbroken as I fell. I shake my head. The Rory effect.
"I need the keys to the Colt" I say to Collin without so much as a hello.
"Why?" he asks.
"Please, just take the other car back to New York. I need to get Rory back".
"About damn time mate" Finn exclaims, smacking his fist on the table. Collin says nothing, just grins and tosses me the keys.
"You going to find her in Stars Hollow?" Robert asks as I head for the door.
"No" I reply "I'm going to visit my dad" and I walk out.
"I need to speak with Mitchum, right away" I announce to my dad's secretary. Another new secretary. Shocking. About my age, blonde eyes, lots of cleavage, vacant stare. Seems about right.
"Well, unless you have an appointment I'm afraid that is not going to happen" buxom blonde says matter of factly. I ignore her, and walk into his office. His back is turned to me, and I can hear that he is on the phone. He turns his chair and sees me walk in and sit in the chair opposite his desk.
"I have to go Charles, let me know as soon as you hear back from legal. Immediately." Dad hangs up the phone as his secretary scurries into the room stuttering her apologies. Dad holds up his hand, "It's ok Alice, this is my son Logan. You can close the door on your way out" he says dismissively. "Logan, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be in London."
"Dad, I have a proposal for you. Please, hear me out. I've learned a lot in London. But I want to come home. I'm ready to come home. I've been managing the British papers for a few years now and I know that Harris is retiring. You need someone to take over the New York papers. I want the job." I try to look confident. This has to work. I can't show Rory we belong together if I can't see her. I need to be close.
Dad looks at me for a few minutes. We're both quiet. What is he thinking? Fuck, he has a good poker face. I try to keep my face calm. "Why?" he finally asks.
"I want the challenge" I tell him quickly, knowing that he finds no room for emotional decisions in his business. "It's the logical next step for me in the group. I already know the New York papers and all the players and I now have the connections in Europe to give HPG the edge we need in the competitive eastern market." I glance over at the picture on his desk, trying to mask my smile. Well, maybe a little room for emotions.
It's been 6 months since Honour and Josh had Mason and Tyler, and I still can't believe that hard-ass Mitchum Huntzburger has turned into a doting grandfather. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes the last time Dad was in London for meetings. He whipped out his phone at lunch each day to show Russell and David the new pictures of the babies that Honour sends us everyday and I nearly had a stroke. But here I am, in his office, his own fortress of solitude, and the picture of him shaking hands with the President of the USA has been relegated to the side table in the corner of the room while a framed picture of Mason and Tyler in tuxedo bibs with their toothless grins is sitting front and centre on his desk. A chink in the armour. "Plus, Honour and Josh and the boys are in Manhattan now. It would be nice to be a part of the boys lives while they're growing up." I feel a twinge of guilt using my nephews this way. But it's true, really, I rationalize. I facetime and skype with Honour all the time, but I've only seen my nephews in person twice in their short lives. It will be nice to see them more often.
"Family is important," my dad finally says, and I struggle to hold back a snort. Really Mitchum? Since when? "I will consider giving you Harris' position on two conditions" Thank God. I'll agree to just about anything. "First, you must wrap up the Burgess account in London before I can even think about finding a replacement for the British office." I nod. Simple enough, I spoke with Burgess just before I left London and he told me the paperwork would be signed next week. I won't tell dad that though. "And I need proof that you're serious about this Logan. Managing the New York papers is big, one of the most important markets for HPG. You might be my son, but I want a full written synopsis from you. What your plans are for each of the papers, how you will increase sales and revenue within the state for HPG, a full analysis. This is business Logan, and whatever your motivation I want to know that you are committed to the business." I nod. "What about Odette, does she know that you're planning on moving the two of you back to America?" he asks.
"Not exactly. Don't worry about Odette. I'll take care of it."
(End of flashback)
"I planned to move back to New York, then show up in Stars Hollow and beg you to take me back. Maybe hire a coffee cart to follow you around if that didn't work" I smirk and she laughs. "I hoped to get things squared away a few weeks ago, but the back and forth negotiations have taken a little longer than I planned" I continue, as Rory sits quietly beside me in bed, my arm wrapped loosely around her shoulder.
"What negotiations?" She asks, confused. "I though you agreed to his terms? And what's to stop your dad from taking the New York job away and sending you back to London when he finds out that you've called off your engagement?"
I grin, "Those terms, yes. But I've added my own. We're signing an Employment Agreement."
"A what?" she is still staring at me like I've got two heads.
"An Employment Agreement. It was Amanda's idea really. Genius."
"Amanda?" I can feel her bristle beside me, and I try to hide my grin.
"Yes, Amanda. She was the first woman I really connected with after I moved to London. She saw right through me, called me on my bullshit. I spent quite a few holidays at her place" Rory tries to get up and I decide to put her out of her misery. "She's my secretary Ace. My 59 year old, married grandmother of a secretary." She blushes, knowing I caught her jealousy, and relaxes back into my chest.
"Oh. So what's this about an Agreement" she asks quickly, trying to change the subject.
"Well by the time I'd returned to London, I was wondering the same thing as you. I knew I was going to end things with Odette, but didn't know how I could still force dad's hand with the New York job once he finds out I'm not going along with his grand dynastic plan. Amanda suggested that since Dad wanted me to prove I was committed to the business, I should insist on a written agreement confirming what my responsibilities would be. Dad thought it was a great idea, and left it to the lawyers to draft. My lawyer knows why I need this Agreement, and has been back and forth with dad's team of lawyers and their God damn fine tooth combs. That's what has taken so long. But I just received the final draft from my lawyer and he assures me that it is iron clad - I can't up and leave without cause, or I lose by inheritance. But Dad can't move me to another office without my consent, or fire me unless I completely screw up the job. And I'm good at my job." She smiles. "It even restricts the trips he can force me to take for work. I signed it yesterday and overnighted it to my dad's office. He should be signing it any day now."
Rory looks a bit worried. "What if your dad finds out you broke up with Odette before he signs it? Doesn't your lawyer work for Mitchum? What if he is reporting back to him?"
"My lawyer is Collin, so I'm pretty sure he's immune to dad's glare by now. He'll keep it to himself." I smirk. "And my dad won't find out," I try to sound reassuring, but I'm starting to panic a little myself. "Okay so I jumped the gun a little breaking things off with Odette, but Jesus Ace, it's been nearly two months and I couldn't wait any longer!" We're both quiet for a moment, thinking about what would happen if my dad did find out I'd sabotaged his chance to make his deal with Dubois. "Maybe we should just lay low for a few days, hang out here and there will be less of a chance of someone seeing together and reporting back to daddy dearest?"
"Sounds like a plan to me." she smiles, "Wait, Finn gave me sound, sober advice and you have retained Collin as a …. a lawyer?! In omnia paratus … all grown up and responsible!" I laugh, nodding. "I guess if we're being grown up and responsible I should probably let my mom know that I'm here."
"Your mom doesn't know?" I ask, incredulously. She tells Lorelai everything! Why didn't she tell her this? "Where does she think you are?"
"Well I didn't really plan this trip… well I didn't plan to leave when I did! I was going to stay with Paris in New York last night after my doctors appointment."
"How do you feel about New York, Ace? Could you be happy there?" I ask nervously.
She's quite for a moment. Shit. I've overstepped again. This is like Palo Alto all over again. "I mean, if you don't want New York, we could always look for a place in Hartford and I could commute. Or we can try to find a place in Starts Hollow and I could just stay in the city during the week and come home on the weekends, or I could just leave HPG again and we can live wherever you want, I'm sure Collin can get me out of the Agreeme…" She shuts me up mid-sentence with a kiss.
"Logan stop. You're changing your entire life, your entire career for me? Are you sure this is what you want?" She can't be serious right now.
"Ace, I have never wanted anything more."
She smiles again. "I'm writing a book Logan. I can write anywhere. And I love New York. But if New York doesn't work out, I can write my book in London… or wherever you are. I'd rather be close to me mom and Luke, but as long as we're together I will be happy."
I let out the breath that I didn't even know I was holding. I pull her back down on top of me. "I love you Ace."
"Really?" she says, kissing me softly. "Show me how much".
So I do.