Reboot

March 2018

The next morning both Rory and Logan woke up in their respective apartments, groggy from lack of sleep and full of angst thanks to the revelations from their rather intense conversation the night before.

As anxious as Rory was about her trip, part of her was thankful to be 800 miles away in Chicago. She needed that much space to think. Mom was right, she thought as she traveled to her destination, it's time to settle the Logan question once and for all. She thought about the first time she and Logan set eyes on each other, when he, Colin, and Finn insulted Marty at the coffee cart. The argument they had the first time they talked when he told her to call him "Master and Commander." His natural tendency towards arrogance, the bridesmaids, proposing to her at her graduation party and his other over-the-top gestures that border on impulsiveness. His inability to decide between her and Odette. The fact that he went back to work for Huntzberger Media, how different they are in terms of background, experience, family.

But, she admitted to herself, Logan was not really the issue. The real issue was her. She thought about Hayden and how much she loved him and how thankful she was to be his mother. However, she had to admit she was not happy about the circumstances that brought on his existence. Her decision to stretch the bounds of the "Vegas" agreement betrayed so much of what she thought of herself to be. It wasn't just the fact that was Logan was engaged but also the fact that she clung onto him because she felt so lost. Yes, she failed, but that wasn't the end of it all, in fact, it was the very beginning. So much had changed since those lost days; she had a job she loved, a home, and best of all a son and a family life that she would not trade for anything. But what about Logan? Was it really love or just remanents her being needy? Just because they had a child together did not mean they were right for each other. She feared to repeat the mistakes of her parents, she feared not breaking the cycle.

However, she also thought about the Logan she interacted with every day; how he was at her side throughout her pregnancy; how he tries his best to be a hands-on parent. She thought about the seemingly benign things he did that made a big difference such as stocking up on her favorite coffee, cleaning up her kitchen, making sure she has a ride home when she worked late at night. She thought about how easily they settled back into the familiar comforts of their relationship and how no matter how tense situation got between them, they always found some sort of equilibrium. She remembered how he told her she was 'special' that first time he kissed her at her grandparent's vow renewal, how he supported her when she took the semester off from school. She also remembered how he dropped everything to be with her when her grandfather had his heart attack during her senior year at Yale and also how he supported her after he died. She thought about how he was the first person she called when something good or bad happened in her life. She thought about how he always goes out of his way to give her what she needed and wanted. She thought about his generous nature, heartfelt sincerity, and how he always pushed her beyond her comfort zone and to break out of the protective shell to which she was always compelled to retreat. She was a better person for knowing him, but was all of that enough?

Logan too spent the day consumed with thoughts of Rory and their relationship. He asked himself time and time again, why her? What was it about this woman that made him so crazy? He remembered how naïve and sheltered he thought she was when they first met. How she was not good at handling failure, her tendency to be standoffish and to shut herself off when she was mad or scared. He was high society and she was middle class and showed that she was not interested in dealing with the pressures of his family. She was also fiercely independent to a fault; In the end, she really didn't really need him; she could go on with life and be ok.

However, it was those things about Rory that drove him crazy were also exactly why he found her so attractive. He loved her because she was different. He remembered the argument they got into the first time he remembered meeting her, how he goaded her just so he could talk to her more and how taken he was with her after she refused to back down from his arguments. He remembered jumping off the scaffolding with her, the look on her face when they landed and how he wanted to kiss her at that moment. He also thought about what a good mom she was to Hayden and how her love and care made him want to be a better father. While she knew how life worked in "his" world, she never cared to fully embrace that life, wanting instead to forge her own path.

He played Rory's words from one of their arguments last year, "did it ever occur to you that if you would have given me just a little space, I would have said yes?" Time and time again he felt rejected by her, but now looking at the big picture, he wondered did she reject him or did she simply reject what and how he wanted life to play out? Her refusal to dive back into a relationship shouldn't have surprised him because Rory was always a decerning person. A lesser person would have just fallen in line, let him and his family take care of everything, and let circumstances dictate their life, but not Rory, she wanted to be deliberate about her life and while frustrating and heart wrenching, he had to respect Rory's need and want to get her life together on her own terms. Before he met Rory he was just some poor little rich kid going through the motions of a life set out for him. Meeting her opened a world of possibilities beyond his predestined existence, a world in which he chose what would make him happy. With her, there was no pretense, no pressure to be anything other than himself.

Without her, he drifted back into that life of expectation. Getting back together with her saved him from that life, and now, with Hayden in the picture, he knew that he could never go back. He was better for having known her and he knew he loved her, but he also accepted that life does not always turn out the way he wanted. Could he go on and be happy without her?

That evening, Rory was in her room trying unsuccessfully to review a document when her Facetime started ringing. Upon answering the call she found Hayden's face taking up the whole screen.

"Hi, Mommy!" Logan said, as he hid behind the baby and moved his arms in a wave, " I love you, miss you, mommy."

"I love and miss you too! What did you do today?"

"Well, I drank tons of milk and went to music class with Clementina. And I also spent the day playing with my friend Nathan's Sheltie puppy at the park. I think I may be in love."

"Oh dear. That's a conversation we will reserve for another year" Rory took a deep breath trying very hard to be as relaxed as possible, "and how is your father holding up?"

Logan moved from behind Hayden, "I'm good. You are gone, I am full-time parenting, so therefore time for issues to explode at the office."

"Is it bad?"

"Nothing that I can't handle, it just annoying and time-consuming.

"Oh, sorry to hear that."

So tell me about it, Mary Tyler Moore, what fascinating things did you do today?"

Rory proceeded to tell Logan about her day; The flight in, the traffic in comparison to New York, their counterparts in the Chicago, and the scope of work they have to accomplish.

Rory was in mid-sentence when Logan interrupted her, 'Whoa Ace, it's bedtime for our friend here, he seems to be fading fast."

"Ok, I forgot we're an hour behind. Go ahead."

"Ok" again, putting Hayden in front of him so Rory could see him fully onscreen again, "Good night mommy, see you tomorrow. I love you!"

"I love you too baby", Rory said to her son.

"So you have a quiet, lazy evening planned?" Logan asked

"Well, as quiet as staying up and reviewing documents can be. It's nice, gives one time to think."

"Well think I shall let you do...Goodnight Ace."

"Goodnight Logan."

They hung up feeling just as confused as ever.

The next day Rory managed to compartmentalize her thoughts about Logan enough to get through the workday, proud that she was able to stay focused enough to fully participate in her meeting s and accomplish other tasks she set out that day. However, try as she might to distract herself, little thoughts about Logan managed to invade her head in insidious ways. People running or biking along the lakefront reminded her of him. The skyscrapers of the Chicago skyline reminded her of taking Logan's hand as they leaped off the scaffolding during that first Life and Death Brigade event. Watching a group of young people singing along to a song as they sat in traffic reminded her of her and Logan singing along to songs on the radio while soaking in the sites during the various road trips they took during their relationship.

After work, Rory returned to her hotel. Walking past the registration desk towards the elevators, she spotted Logan standing in front of the elevators with Hayden in his stroller. Excited that Logan came to surprise her, she walked quickly towards them. OMG, Rory thought, it is just like Logan to come and surprise me like this. She was a mere five feet away when only to have her stop in her tracks when another woman walked up to the man and gave him a kiss. It wasn't Logan, but someone who looked liked him from behind.

All at once Rory felt a rush of intense disappointment, so much so that she was on the verge of tears. However, that disappointment quickly followed by realization and excitement. It was there all along, only now at this moment was she ready to accept it. She was in love with Logan and wanted to be with him.

Rory stepped into the elevator, pressed the "11" button and stood in the corner impatiently waiting while her fellow elevator mates got off on their respective floors. After seemingly forever, she finally reached her floor where she hurried to her room and set up her laptop in time to receive her Facetime call. Just as she signed in her computer started ringing with the icon on her screen soon giving way to the images of the smiling Hayden and Clementina, sitting in what Rory knew as Logan's living room.

"Hi, Rory! Can you say hi to mommy Hayden?" Clementina greeted.

"Hey, what are you doing there?" Rory asked trying not to sound disappointed.

"Logan had an issue at work. He wasn't sure what time he could come home so he asked me to stay. My sister is on her way with food, I think after Hayden goes to sleep we're going to binge watch the last season of Supernatural."

"That sounds like fun," Rory said.

Rory and Clementina discussed Hayden's day and the schedule for Friday. Rory then said goodnight to Hayden and then hung up. "Tomorrow," Rory thought to herself, "tomorrow I will talk to him."

After a day of angst and uncertainty, Logan finally felt focused. Work emergencies, as painful as they were, took his mind off the Rory situation enough to give him distance and clarity. After more than ten years of the ghost of Rory haunting his emotions, it was time to put his heart on the line and tell Rory once and for all what he wanted and needed. This time though, he wasn't scared of the outcome. This time he was ready to let the chip fall as they may, to accept what ever would come, even if it wasn't what he wanted.

He formulated his plan the evening before Rory came home. Because he had to work late, Clementina planned to spend the night at his place with her sister and Hayden. The next day he planned to work from home in the morning and then relieve Clementina at around lunchtime. She would then return in the evening to watch Hayden while Logan took Rory out for a drink so they could talk. It was time for him to move forward with or without Rory.

Rory journeyed home on the 9 am flight the next morning. As she watched the approaching New York skyline through the airplane window, she contemplated how she would tell Logan about her new perspective. She questioned whether or not he would be willing to give them another chance. The thought of rejection made Rory feel both emotionally and physically sick, but she had to say something. For the first time in a long time, she knew where she stood in her relationship with Logan and she wanted to be honest about it.

As Rory's plane approached New York, Logan arrived at Rory's apartment. He came early to relieve Clemintina and to mentally prep before putting his plan in motion. He would help get Rory settled, make plans for dinner, and then afterward take her out to have their talk. After his mid-morning snack and a change, Logan got Hayden ready for his nap, only to find that he left Hayden's sleep blanket at his apartment. Try as he might to soothe, Hayden was fussy, crying, and unable to sleep, taking away Logan's quiet time to prepare.

About an hour later Rory arrived home to find Logan pacing around her apartment with Hayden trying to get him to settle down for his afternoon nap. Upon seeing her Logan put his fingers to his lips and mouthed the question, "Is he asleep?" Seeing her nod her head yes, Logan let out a relieved sigh and proceeded to Hayden's bedroom where he gingerly put him down in his crib. "Oh thank God." Logan vented to Rory as he closed the door to Hayden's room. "We forgot to pack his sleep blanket. I've been trying to get him to sleep for about an hour!"

"Where is Clementina?"

"My afternoon meetings were canceled so I decided to blow off work. I let Clementina leave early. She's been pulling longer duty this week, and I wanted to give her a break."

"That's very nice of you."

"Yes, that is until I realized that we forgot the blanket. I don't know who cried more, Hayden or me." Logan said with a self-deprecating smile.

Rory laughed, "Well I am glad you survived."

"So welcome back! How was the rest of your trip?"

"Great! Last night after my Facetime call with Hayden, the team and I met in the hotel bar and were able to hammer out a formal timeline which the Pier people approved it this morning, so we are good to go."

"It's amazing how productive people can be after a few martinis!"

"I know right? I'm probably going to have to make a couple more extended trips to Chicago in the upcoming months. I don't know how we are going to handle that with the baby..."

Logan shook his head assuredly, "Don't worry that won't be an issue. I can take him more days, or you could even take him with you. I don't think Clementina would mind a working vacation in Chicago. And if you are there for an extended period of time, I could always fly out. We'll make it work Ace."

"Thanks, that's good to know." Rory, realizing that she was smiling and staring at Logan for a bit too long, turned away blushing. "So, have you eaten lunch? I think I have a can of soup in the cupboard."

"No, I think I better take off and let you get settled. Plus I need run home and get that blanket or you're in for a rough night."

"No hurry. Hayden and I can walk over to your place when he wakes up. Or do you have plans for dinner? We can meet up half way."

Logan smiled happy that he didn't have to suggest dinner, making his plan that much easier, "Sure, at the usual place? 5:30?"

"It's a date."

"Great!" Logan placed his hand on Rory's arm and leaned in to give her their customary hello/goodbye kiss on the cheek. But, as Logan withdrew his face from hers, he sensed her head turn and then the sensation of her lips sweeping against his face. He straightened to find Rory looking at him with a hopeful expression. The next thing they knew they were kissing. A long, soft, and very meaningful kiss. As they continued, their kiss became more passionate, fueled by all the emotions kept at bay for the last week. Before it went too far Logan broke away, "Ace," He said, trying to catch his breath, "What are you thinking? Please just don't let this be just a fleeting moment, my heart can't take that."

"I was just answering that question you posed before I left," Rory replied.

"What question is that?"

"What now?"

"And?"

"I would say that we should move forward...together."

"Together?" Logan asked excitedly.

Rory placed her hands on Logan's face and kissed him softly before resting her forehead on his. With tears in her eyes she told him definitively "Yes Logan, I want us to be together."

Logan could not help but smile back.

An hour or so later, while wrapped together in Rory's bed, Rory recounted to Logan her epiphany while in Chicago. The story made Logan laugh. "Ace! If I had known that sending you off to Chicago would restart our relationship, I would have packed you off months ago."

"I'm just glad that you were patient and was still interested."

Logan gave her a tender kiss, "How could I not be interested in you? I do confess," he said with a smile, "there was a point where I almost, just almost gave up."

"You did? When?"

"Just before we left Star Hallow for here the first time. I saw you and Jess at the gazebo. You two just seemed to so together; I thought we were not going to happen.

"What brought you back?"

"Sloan."

"The real estate agent?"

"Yes. When I saw that you were ready to go 12 rounds with her after her shameless flirting, I had hope."

"And all this time I thought you were oblivious."

"It was hard not to miss. Subtlety was not her strong suit."

"I was pretty ticked off, especially the part where she was like "Oh, Hayden, he's so adorable" after she found out I was not an employee, but the mother."

Logan laughed again, "Seeing you resisting the urge rip her head off was the best part of that afternoon."

"Well, at least I was entertaining."

"Indeed you were. But that day gave me hope. Your reaction meant that we still had a fighting chance. I admit, after that visceral display, I was so tempted to do some sort of over-the-top gesture to show you how I felt and possibly get you back on my side. But then I remembered that argument we got into the day that my parents ambushed Lorelai and Emily, and I decided to hold back.

"And your fiendish plan worked."

"It was nerve-wracking, but well, we are here right?"

"It certainly did"

Looking at each other they started to kiss again.

"So," Rory asked when Logan broke away to kiss her collarbone, "where do we go from here?"

Before Logan could answer, Hayden started to cry.

Moment ruined, Logan sighed with a frustrated smile, "I'll get him," he said.

The two got up and quickly dressed. Logan left the room and returned a minute later with the newly awakened Hayden, who laughed excitedly at the site of his long-absent mother.

"Hi there buddy" Rory happily greeted as Logan handed him to her, "I missed you so much!"

Logan got back into bed with Rory and Hayden, where they stayed for the next hour, playing with their baby, and being together.

Later that afternoon, Logan and Hayden arrived at their apartment. They left Rory at her place, giving her a chance to get settled in, unpack, and shower, while they went to Logan's to retrieve the sleep blanket. After securing the blanket and canceling plans with Clementina, Logan sat Hayden down on his high chair to give him a snack. While he ate, Logan placed a box in front of Hayden, opening it up to show him the ring Logan had bought for Rory all those months ago. "I bought this ring more than a year ago with the intention of sweeping your mom off her feet," he told Hayden, "little did I know what news she had in store for me!" Logan smiled at his son, "So, what do you think? Should I do it or should I wait?" Hayden smiled at Logan and grabbed the box. "You're right, I should just do it."

A half-hour later, the three of them met at the playground. To the outside world, Logan, Rory, and Hayden looked like a typical New York family enjoying a warm spring evening, but to Rory the change was palpable. She felt freer and lighter than she has in a long time. She felt safe and secure. She felt for the first time in her life she was finally home.

"You know, we never got that conversation started," Logan said as he pushed Hayden on the swing.

"What conversation was that?"

"Where do we go from here?"

"Oh yes. You have any thoughts on that?"

"Why, yes I do, here." Logan took out a small object from his pocket and put it in Rory's hand.

Rory looked to find a small blue box which contained vintage engagement ring. In that moment Rory remembered the words her mother spoke to her several weeks ago. "If you have an opportunity for love, true love, then you should take it and revel in it as much as you can..."

She looked at Logan with a wide smile, yes she thought, yes I want to marry this man. "Fine," she replied with a wide smile.

"Fine?! Really? Fine?! Well, ok then," Logan returned with an equally wide smile.

He took back the box, removed the ring, and placed it on her finger. He then grabbed Rory, lifting and swinging her around in the happiest hug he had ever given.

Upon seeing his parents engaged in such an emotional embrace, Hayden started to cry as if he was feeling left out. "Oh no don't cry, " Rory pleaded, picking up her son. Logan then embraced and kissed the two of them, quietly celebrating the moment. Finally, on track, he thought. Finally, we are together.

"I love you Ace," Logan said to Rory.

"I love you too."