"Hey, Logan?" Rory asked as they pulled out of Honor's driveway.
"Yeah?"
"You know my Grandma isn't going to be as thrilled as Honor was, right?"
"I know, Ace, but everything will be okay. We're in this together."
"I know. I just...she's going to pressure us to do things in what she sees as the right way. I just want you to be prepared."
"I assume you're talking about getting married?"
"Yeah. She's going to want to put together the society wedding of the century as quickly as possible. I don't want her to take over and force us into doing things her way."
"Rory, I would like to marry you before our baby is born. Not because I have to. I want to. I want for us to bring that little life into the world as husband and wife, but ultimately the how and when is up to you and me."
"I want that too, Logan. I really do. I just don't want a huge spectacle of a wedding."
"Alright, then we'll hold Emily off today and decide on a date and venue and guest list together, and then we can let her help with some smaller things to keep her happy," Logan responded. "Sound good?"
"Sounds perfect," Rory replied as they pulled into the driveway of the Gilmore mansion. Logan came around to her door and opened it for her, helping her out of the car. He pulled her close to him and she laid her head on his chest. "No matter what happens here with Emily today, we're going to be okay. I need you to know that. She's not going to change anything for us, okay?"
"I know. Thank you, Logan," Rory replied.
She took his hand and they walked together to the large, imposing front door. She reached out and rang the doorbell and waited for whatever was coming their way from Emily Gilmore, knowing that they would get through it together.
"Rory!" Emily cried before she even had the front door open. She looked quickly between Rory and Logan for a minute before stepping back to allow the couple to enter. "Logan, I didn't realize you were coming with Rory."
"It was a bit of a surprise for you, Emily. It's lovely to see you again. I'm so sorry to hear of Richard's passing. He was a fine man.," he responded as he kissed her cheek.
"Yes, he certainly was. Shall we all move to Richard's study? I'm afraid most of the other furniture has been loaded up for the movers," Emily said.
The trio moved to the study, and Rory was struck once again by how much she missed her Grandpa. Logan caught the emotions playing across her face as she took in the study and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close and kissing her temple before they sat down.
"Well, is anyone going to tell me what's going on here?" Emily asked in an irritated tone. "The last I knew Logan was engaged to be married, so pardon me if I'm a bit unsure as to why he's here with you."
Logan gave Rory's hand a light squeeze and began to speak.
"Emily, I'm sure that it's quite a surprise to see me here with Rory. My engagement to Odette was a business arrangement between our parents in order to merge their companies. Odette and I were not involved romantically at all. She and I decided together to break off the engagement and have done so."
"Well, I suppose that's good then," Emily replied with a slight hesitation. "I didn't realize that you two had stayed in touch."
"Grandma," Rory began, "perhaps you can listen to everything that we have to tell you and then respond? It's a lot to take in."
Emily just nodded her agreement.
"Logan and I ran into each other two years ago in Hamburg and had been seeing each other since then when we could. When his parents decided it was time for Odette to move in with Logan I broke it off with him, but he came to see me one last time last month. There's no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to get it over with. Logan and I are having a baby, Grandma. I'm about six weeks pregnant. Logan broke off his engagement, sold his stake in HPG and left the company, and came here to find me without knowing yet that I was pregnant. Logan and I are engaged to be married, not because of the baby, but because we love each other," Rory finished.
"You're...I'm going to be a great-grandmother?" Emily asked softly.
"Yeah, you are. I'm due in July."
"Well, this is marvelous news! An engagement and a baby to celebrate!"
"You're not upset, Grandma? I know that this isn't the way things are supposed to happen."
"I'm not upset, Rory. Your Grandfather's death put a lot of things into perspective for me. I think this is wonderful news! When do you two plan to get married?"
"Emily, we haven't set a date quite yet, but Rory and I do know that we want to get married before the baby arrives. Honestly, I think we would prefer a smaller, more intimate wedding, but we would be delighted if you could help Rory with some of the details," Logan offered.
"That would be lovely," Emily replied with a large grin. "Logan, now that you've left your family's business what do you intend to do?"
"I actually just accepted a job as Editor at the Courant. Rory and I will make our home here in Hartford."
"And you'll be able to support your family with this job?" Emily asked politely.
"I will, Emily. I've done very well for myself over the last ten years, and frankly, having made some very wise investments and worked hard, neither of us would have to work another day if we didn't want to, but I enjoy the newspaper business and want to continue working," Logan replied.
"Well then, I am extremely happy for both of you," Emily replied. "I must say, I always thought you two would have beautiful babies."
"Well, I guess we won't have to wait that much longer to find out," Rory chuckled.
"Indeed. Oh! Have you two found a home yet?" Emily asked.
"Not yet, Emily. We drove around and looked at a couple of places this morning. I'll stay with Rory in Stars Hollow until we find a place," replied Logan.
"Nonsense! Rory, your Grandfather and I had always planned on you inheriting this home when we passed away. It's only right that you begin your family here rather than waiting."
"I...I couldn't, Grandma. It's too much. You should have the money from selling the house," Rory said, clearly shocked.
"Don't be ridiculous, Rory. I have more than enough money without selling the house, and I'm living in Nantucket now. You two can redecorate and make the place your own, and I would have a place to stay in the pool house when I come visit my great-grandchild," Emily continued.
Rory looked over at Logan with pleading eyes, seeming to ask if he was okay with this happening.
"Emily, if Rory is okay with it, I think it would be wonderful to raise our children here. Really, though, I would be more than happy to purchase the house from you," Logan said.
"Absolutely not. That part of the discussion is over. I had already scheduled the movers to have everything else out of the house by Monday. I'll take the house off the market and give you two keys today."
"Wow, Grandma. I just...thank you. This is amazing. I don't even know what to say," Rory said with tears in her eyes.
"You've said enough, dear. I'm so happy to be able to do this for you both."
"Grandma, is it possible for us to keep the things from Grandpa's study? I mean, if you don't want them. I would really love to keep this room just like it was. It makes it feel like he's still here in a way," Rory said.
"Of course, Rory. He would want that. Now, I'm so sorry to run off, but I really must be off to the airport to fly back to Nantucket."
Emily offered her congratulations to the newly-engaged parents-to-be once more as she handed them keys to their new home and hugged them goodbye before departing for the airport and left the couple standing in the entryway.
"That was...wow. Are we sure that was my Grandma?" Rory asked with a giggle.
"If it wasn't then can we just pretend that it was please? Because that went far better than I could ever have hoped," Logan replied.
"Are you sure you're okay with us living here, Logan?"
"I'm absolutely certain, Ace. This will be the perfect place to start our family, and seeing how I don't start my new job for two weeks we should have time to do some furniture shopping and redecorating before I start working. It will work out perfectly."
"Well then, I guess all I can say is welcome home," Rory replied as she pulled him close and kissed him.
"Home is wherever you are, Ace," he whispered against her lips.
Rory and Logan spent the remainder of their time before dinner with their friends walking through their new home, looking for things they wanted to change and discussing ideas, and both were very excited about making the house their home together by the time they left for dinner.
They intentionally arrived at the restaurant ten minutes late in order to surprise all of their friends, and when Rory and Logan turned the corner holding hands she was almost knocked over by the enthusiastic hugs and greetings.
"Mate, is there something you want to tell us?" Finn asked with a wink as Logan and Rory sat down at the table.
"There actually is, guys. I finally came to my senses, sold my stake in HPG, left the company, broke off my engagement to Odette and moved back to attempt to win back the woman of my dreams, and she happily took me back. Rory and I are getting married," Logan said with a huge grin.
"It's about damn time!" Robert said with a smile as the group all congratulated the couple.
"We're so glad you're back, Mother," Colin chuckled.
"Yeah, about that," Rory began as she looked toward Logan and he nodded his encouragement, "Logan and I have a souvenir from our night in New Hampshire. I'm six weeks pregnant. We're going to be parents in July."
At this news the group broke into hugs, pats on the back and congratulations all around. As Rory watched the people around here, people that had been part of her life for long long, she was overcome with joy at the realization that she and Logan were finally getting their forever. It wouldn't be perfect, and it would certainly be hard at times, but these friends would be there for it all.