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The plane brushed and settled on the ground with a loud rush. Rory stirred from her half-sleep and Logan shook her arm slightly.
"Hey, Ace," he said gently. "We're here."
"Here?" Rory echoed groggily. It had been a long flight. They had flown straight for five hours before disembarking at Cleveland for their connecting flight. The layover had been almost two hours and, by the time they had stepped onto the plane, Rory was falling asleep. She didn't know what time it was but it felt very late. A glance at Logan's watch showed it was just after two.
The plane had settled and people were getting to their feet, impatiently forming a line. Logan stood up, pulling Rory with him, and she winced at the cramp in her legs. She yawned widely, too tired to suppress it, and followed her husband down the gangway. She knew they were back in Connecticut yet it still felt like a dream.
It was raining as they walked down the steps. The water washed Rory's face, waking her up and she breathed in the cool air, stopping and closing her eyes. She gripped the metal rail and soaked in the welcome of her home state. Logan gave her a nudge.
"You're holding up the line," he said impatiently. Rory smiled apologetically and hurried down the last of the steps.
Rory slid back into her reverie once they were inside the airport. She read the sign Welcome to Hartford, Connecticut! but barely took the words in, she could be anywhere in the world. She let Logan lead the way, get the bags from luggage disposal and blearily wondered if this whole trip was a dream and she would wake up in their San Francisco apartment.
"Rory?"
Rory blinked and opened her eyes. Logan was standing beside her with three suitcases and she moved to pick one up. Logan took it from her.
"I got it," he said impatiently. "Let's go."
They pushed through the crowd to the exit. Rory stumbled along, wondering if the door would ever appear when suddenly they were outside, back in the fresh air and a person was waiting with a beam on her face and thrill to her voice.
"Rory!"
"Mom!" Rory shrieked. She ran towards her, her tiredness instantly evaporating and threw herself into her arms. "Mom!"
"Hey, you," Lorelai said fondly, her voice shaking slightly as she hugged her daughter tightly to her chest. "It's about time."
"What are you doing here?" Rory asked, looking up with her eyes shining. "I thought we were seeing you tomorrow."
"So did I," Logan said. "I thought that was the plan."
He was grinning but his voice was suspicious and there was a glare to his eye.
"As if I'd miss my daughter coming home!" Lorelai exclaimed. "And my son-in-law, of course," she added hastily, looking at Logan who smiled but didn't say anything.
"But it's so late, Mom," Rory argued. "You must be exhausted!"
"Not as exhausted as you, travelling for hours in a stinky plane!"
"It wasn't so stinky. I was asleep for most of it."
"Okay, a semi-stinky flight. Are you mad at me for coming?" Lorelai teased and Rory shook her head fiercely.
"It was great of you to come, Lorelai," Logan cut in. "But I feel bad – we were going to grab a cab and book a room someplace. I feel like you drove out here for nothing."
"Oh, you guys can't stay in a room!" Lorelai exclaimed staring at them. "No way! I'll drive you back and you can sleep at my place. You're going to until the apartment's ready, anyhow."
"Logan, let's go to Mom's," Rory said pleadingly, seeing her husband about to brush off the offer. "Please? I'm tired and I don't want to drive to some hotel."
"Even a five star one?" Logan joked wearily and sighed. "Fine. Thanks, Lorelai."
"No problem," Lorelai said breezily, taking one of the suitcases he had put down. "Sorry to act like the interfering mother-in-law."
Logan laughed but he didn't contradict. Instead, he carried the other two suitcases to the car and threw them into the trunk with a little more force than necessary. As he helped Rory into the back she suddenly found herself about to whisper an apology before stopping herself. Why should it matter to Logan if they weren't going to a hotel? Surely it was better? They were too tired to do anything but sleep. She looked over at Logan, whose mouth was set in a firm line. He looked away out of the window and Rory wished she was sitting upfront.
It was too dark to see anything but she sat up as they reached Stars Hollow. The gazebo was just visible and Rory's heart gave a great leap as they passed Kim's Antiques, though Lane was long gone. Ghosts of memory screamed out at her and for a moment she expected to see her young self sitting with her best friend, content with all in the world. Rory stared and though they quickly drove away the feeling was far from gone.
The world wasn't stirring as they got out of the car. Stars Hollow was asleep and there was a hush to the air as Lorelai fumbled for her key and unlatched the door. Rory wearily leaned on Logan's shoulder as she opened it before stepping over the threshold. The house was in darkness but before Lorelai could switch on the light there was a loud woof!
"It's Paul Anka," Lorelai said apologetically, turning the lights on and going to comfort him. "Hey, boy, look who it is! Look who's back!"
Rory went over to him, bending down and holding her hands out for him to sniff.
"It's me," she told him, looking into his eyes. "Remember me?"
Paul Aka sniffed her hands suspiciously before giving them a lick and letting out an approving bark. Rory smiled in relief and rubbed his head, looking over her shoulder at Logan.
"Come say hi," she told him.
"Can't it wait until morning?"
"No," Rory said stoutly. "He needs to know your scent."
"This is why I wanted to go to a hotel," Logan muttered under his breath. Rory couldn't tell if he intended her to hear or not but she didn't say anything. Silently, she stepped aside and watched Logan bend down and stroke his head. Paul Anka let out a sound which was halfway between a growl and bark.
"You need to let him sniff your hands!" Lorelai exclaimed. Logan nodded impatiently and grudgingly did so. The dog sniffed and let Logan rub his head again but he still looked suspicious and retreated to his basket once Logan had stood up.
"I've made the beds up," Lorelai told them. "I don't know if you guys wanted to go to sleep right away or not, but I could make some coffee?"
"No thanks," Logan said as Rory opened her mouth to accept. "We're pretty tired."
"Sure," Lorelai said quickly. "Well, it's all yours. I bought fresh toothbrushes as well so you don't have to go through your stuff."
"Thanks, Mom," Rory said gratefully, hugging her again. "You're the best."
"I was happy to do it," Lorelai said, kissing the top of her head. "Night, kid."
"Night, Mom."
"Sleep well," Lorelai said to Logan, who nodded. "I'm going to crash too."
They watched her head upstairs before going into Rory's room. A breath caught in Rory's throat: her room was exactly the same, there and waiting for her. The lamp was on, casting a gentle glow across the room and Rory laughed as she saw a pair of her old, flannel pyjamas washed and folded for her on her pillow.
"What am I supposed to wear?" Logan grumbled, looking at the trundle bed. Rory folded her arms and said,
"We brought stuff to sleep in – you thought we were going to a hotel anyway."
"I know."
"So why are you complaining?" Rory asked irritably. "It's a nice thing, what Mom did."
"I never said it wasn't, Rory!"
"You're acting pissed," Rory said truthfully, making Logan scowl. "You're tired and you're taking it out on me."
"I'm not, it's just – we could have just gone to a hotel."
"Isn't this better?" Rory asked, confused. "We'd have to find somewhere and pay some stupid amount –"
"Like I don't have the cash!"
"Logan, we'd have to come here tomorrow anyway," Rory said firmly. "And I'd sooner stay here tonight than a random room, no matter how good it was. I'm tired and I want to go to sleep."
"From the way you and Lorelai were talking I thought you'd be up all night."
"Why didn't you let me say yes to the coffee?"
"I didn't stop you," Logan said. "Besides, I thought you were exhausted."
Rory looked at him. His T-shirt and jacket were rumpled and he looked like he was daring her to argue. She shook her head and folded her arms.
"I am. It doesn't matter. Let's just go to sleep."
"Fine. I'm going to use my exciting new toothbrush."
He left the room, stepping a little too loudly and making Paul Anka bark again. Rory sighed, turned back round and pulled on her pyjamas. She hadn't worn them for so long they felt new and, as she looked round at the familiar posters and bookshelves she could fool herself that she was still sixteen and had Chilton in the morning. The illusion was shattered as Logan returned, complaining about the coolness of the water.
The house was dead as Rory washed her face. It was a different bathroom to the one she had grown up with but the house still felt the same. She tiptoed back down the stairs, into her bedroom and fell into a dreamless sleep.
She opened her eyes the next morning and stared around, wondering where she was. She looked at the cheerfully decorated walls, utterly confused, before remembering and swinging her legs out of bed. It wasn't a dream, she was really here and she jumped up and pulled the robe on that was hanging on the door for her. The trundle bed was empty so Logan must be up.
Lorelai was sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee ready. Rory let out an exclamation of joy and sat down beside her, closing her eyes and taking a sip. She felt as though she was visiting heaven.
"Good to be home?" Lorelai asked and Rory opened her eyes to see her grinning.
"Definitely," she said. "I'm glad we came here instead of some hotel."
"Logan seemed a little less thrilled," Lorelai remarked and Rory felt a blush of shame.
"Sorry," she said guiltily. "He was just tired. Do you know where he is?"
"Bathroom," Lorelai said and Rory heard water run through the pipes. "He'll be down in a sec."
"Thanks for these," Rory said, indicating her sleepwear. "Only the coolest thing to sleep in."
"Hey, I've always envied your flannel pyjamas. I was going to put out something cooler but these were already there."
"Oh, sure," Rory beamed. "Thanks, Mom."
"Anytime, kid."
They stopped to drink some more coffee and looked up at the sound of feet on the stairs. Logan had finished in the bathroom and yawned as he joined them, his hair damp at the edges.
"Good shower?" Rory asked and he nodded wordlessly. "Sit and have some coffee."
Logan sat down and took a cup but he didn't say anything. Lorelai let him drink a little before saying,
"Okay, guys, how's this for a plan? Rory'll get dressed and we'll head to Luke's for some breakfast. How does that sound?"
"Great!" Rory exclaimed and Logan shrugged. "What? You don't want to go?"
"I was going to make some business calls."
"And you can't do that later?" Rory asked, frustrated. "It's nine AM!"
"You can't sleep in the business world."
Rory sat back in her seat, disappointed. Logan hesitated and then said,
"Why don't you go on ahead and I'll meet you there?"
Rory felt her good mood return.
"That sounds great," she said, kissing his cheek. "I'll save a seat for you."
He smiled and kissed her back. Rory was sure he looked relieved as they left but decided not to think about why. Instead, she took her mother's hand and strode to the diner. She was home.