Author Note: This is it! Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed. Of all of my million ideas, this is the first one I ventured to put out here, and you all have made it such a great experience. I have an idea of continuing this universe in Bridesmaids Revisited. If you like my version of Logan, look for that in a few months or add me as author alert. Thanks! I do not own Gilmore Girls or any characters.
Logan knocks on Rory's door at exactly 7:00 the next evening. He is surprisingly nervous.
No one comes to the door, so he knocks again. Is she standing me up?
Her phone goes to voicemail. "Hey, Rory. I'm at your apartment, but you're not so…. Um… Call me back."
I am not letting her out of this date. We have to get this back on track. Where the hell is she?
He runs through possible locations in his mind- Daily News, library, Stars Hollow. He decides to start with the Daily News office, because he knows they are supposed to go to print tonight.
He is still nervous as he drives to campus and parks. There is so much riding on tonight.
As he walks towards the newsroom, he can hear the chatter and feel the energy. Something is happening. She is definitely here.
He stands in the doorway for a second, observing the chaos, before spotting her and heading her way.
She turns around and sees him. "Oh my God. Our date. I'm so sorry," she says, frazzled. "Paris melted down, and everyone quit, and the paper wasn't going to come out… And I only found out about it because no one called me to confirm they got my story. So I called in all the heelers, and I got Sheila and Joni to come in, and I called Pete, who said he was sick, but I threatened his job, so he came in. But he was really sick, so I just sent him home so he wouldn't get anyone else sick. Plus, the printers are trying to give our time away. The computers keep crashing. And then there is this tiny little detail of nothing's done. And D-Day the paper came out, and I forgot. I'm sorry."
He is amused by her ramble, yet slightly offended at the same time. "I can't believe you didn't call me."
"I know, but it's just paper stuff."
"I know. I'm on the paper," he laughs.
"You hate it here."
"So what? I know this crap backwards and forwards. I can't believe you didn't even think to call me." Not only our date, but I'm a Huntzberger.
He looks around, surveying the havoc and planning an attack.
"Well, I'm sorry. I just didn't think you were interested."
"Well I guess you don't know everything now, do you? So come on. What have you got here?"
"Well this is an article on Greenspan. He gave an interview with all this technical economic jargon."
That class has come in handy sooner than I thought it would. "I know the jargon. Are these proofed?" he asks, taking the article.
"Yeah, but they're not typed in."
"I'll do that. It'll be faster. I type ninety words a minute."
"You do?" Rory asks him, incredulously.
"You really did only like me for my looks, huh? How ya doing on content?"
"Uh, still a little short," she sighs.
"Okay, well I've got a couple of stories banked that I didn't give Paris. They're in pretty decent shape. You can take a look at them."
"Okay."
"And just remember, if you still need material, just cannibalize everything you have ready for Friday's issue and use it for tonight."
"Robbing Peter to pay Paul."
"Peter's asking for it," he grins. "Okay, so who do you have desking?" He scans the newsroom.
"Bill."
Ugh. That will never work. "I'd throw Sheila on there with him. It'll hurt his ego, and make him work faster. Okay I'll be over here if you need me, and…Get that yo-yo off the floor. Someone's gonna break their neck!"
He heads to his desk to start working. This actually feels great. I might want to do this for a living if I didn't have to do this for a living.
Sitting at his desk, he makes a quick call to Finn.
"Hey buddy. Are you busy?... I need a huge favor… Tonight is my date with Rory, but we're having a newspaper crisis. Can you swing by Chianti, cancel my reservation, and grab something to go?... Something easy. Meatball sub and a chicken parm sandwich. And then drop it by here?... Thanks, man. And tell Rosemary I'm sorry to mess up your plans."
He spends the next forty minutes typing in articles, verifying quotes, and proofing some of his own stories. It is exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. He intermittently sneaks glances at Rory, loving how happy she seems.
His phone buzzes. Finn and Rosemary are here. He meets them in the hallway.
"Here's your dinner, mate."
"There's also a bottle of wine and a candle and a lighter," Rosemary says.
Logan is touched. "This is great guys. Thanks."
"Well, we miss Rory too. Make this count," she grins.
"I'll do my best. I owe you."
Finn leans in and says "Just the horny details, Logan."
Rolling his eyes, he leaves them and heads back into the newsroom. Just as he is putting dinner away in his desk, Rory pops over.
"We are so close! Just one more article we can proof as you type. It turns out you are the fastest one here."
He smirks and sits down at his computer. He quickly begins typing as everyone proofs around him.
"How are we doing on time?" he calls out to the group.
"Uh, bad."
Seriously, Bill? "More specifically?"
"Ten minutes."
"We'll make it," Rory says optimistically.
"We will make it," he agrees and returns to proofing the last article. "Okay, and I'm done."
"Close out," Rory orders. "I'll cut and paste it to the final copy."
"Closing out!" He rolls close to Rory. "Wow! So that's what hard work feels like? Apparently, I've been avoiding it for a reason. You in, Ace?"
"I'm in. Proceeding with the cut and paste now."
He watches her work, enthralled with her intensity. "Aw, man," he laughs.
"Why are you smiling?" she asks barely looking up from her monitor.
"Oh, I'm thinking about the hundreds of different ways you owe me for this," he quips.
"I owe you nothing. You did this for the greater good- for the glory of the people."
Yeah right. For a Rory Gilmore blow job.
"For a foot massage," he says, erring to the PG.
"Well, kids," Bill interrupts. "Hold onto your hats because we are losing our printing time."
Shit.
"No! Remind Russell about the Christmas card!" Rory points at Bill.
"I don't think he cares. He's giving it to The Cart."
"No, he can't," Rory says sadly.
"He did."
Shit.
"Oh, so that's it? We just lose? After all this work, we just lose?"
No, Ace. We do not lose. Russell will not ruin our date. Time to throw my name around.
"Keep typing, Ace," Logan tells her as he gets out of his chair.
"Why? What's the point?" she whines.
"Type!" He takes the phone from Bill.
"I guess you'll be talking on the phone now."
"Go away, Bill. Hey! Who am I speaking with?... Russell, I'm Logan Huntzberger… Yes, those Huntzbergers… It's great to speak with you too… I hear there's a problem with our printing time… Uh-huh…No, I completely understand. The first thing I learned from my father is that there's no paper unless it gets to the printer on time… Yes, he is quite a legend, my father…"
Ugh. This guy is worse than Bill. But he's eating it up. Just keep talking. Keep stalling.
Rory motions for more time, while typing furiously. He continues to chat up Russell, dropping his father's name again.
Stall. She's almost done. Stall.
"Okay, Russell…Smith. Now if you go to your computer, I am definitely… absolutely sure that you will turn it on, and you will see that we… the Yale Daily News… have successfully completed our mission and sent you our email containing the latest issue of the-"
Rory raises her arms triumphantly.
"It's all there, man."
Russell says nothing for a few minutes. His heart is pounding. He doesn't want to disappoint Rory any more than he already has.
There is confirmation. He finishes the call and slams down the receiver.
"And that's how we do it at the Daily News!" he yells, and the room erupts. Rory jumps into his arms, and euphoria spreads throughout his entire body.
"All right! We got the paper out," Paris enters the room, and everyone quiets down. "That's what I'm talking about people! Good hustle, really good hustle." She fists pumps. "And they said we couldn't do it, huh? Boy what a rush, huh?"
What the fuck? Whatever… I am holding Rory.
"So I'm just saying, when that giant asteroid heads toward Earth, I want you in that fighter jet," Rory says sweetly.
Logan turns to face her. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"You saved my ass."
I do love that ass. "Infinitely worth saving," he says sincerely.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
She grabs the back of his neck and kisses him. He pulls her closer.
She's kissing me!
She breaks the kiss and says, "I'm sorry we didn't get our dinner."
Surprise! "We didn't? Huh…" He pulls dinner out of his desk. "I thought we did."
Rory smiles at him as he pulls out her chair.
"Boy, when you're on …" she laughs as he hands her a sandwich.
"How did you do this? I've been with you for the last hour."
"Rory, nothing was going to keep me from making this date happen," he says seriously, and then jokes, "I mean, if we missed this one, it might take two more weeks of flowers and coffee and books to get another one."
"I don't think I ever need more flowers," she smiles.
The rest of the staff trickles out, and Logan sees this as his opportunity to light the candle and pour the wine. They alternate eating and reliving the more crazy parts of the night.
Paris shuffles out of her bunker and glances at them. As she leaves, she turns off half the lights, effectively dimming them.
"See, she is Team Logan!" he smirks.
Rory laughs out loud.
"I gotta tell ya, Ace. I know my father is the end-all, be-all of publishing, but he's wrong about you. If he could have seen you in here tonight. I mean, you definitely have it."
"Thanks. That's means a lot coming from you. He's wrong about you, too. Why don't you let him see how talented you are?"
"I don't know, I… Let's not talk about him. What next? I had tickets to the planetarium, but I think we've missed it."
"Oh, that would have been nice. Well, we could take the rest of the wine back to your apartment?"
Oh my God. I was sure she would want to go to her own place. Okay, dishes are done, bed is made. No way to hide the flip boards. She'll just have to see them.
"Logan, we don't have to do that," she interrupts his thoughts. "Paris will just be at my place, and… I'm just not ready to say goodnight."
"Me either. My place is fine. I just wasn't expecting that, so I was trying to make sure it was clean. You haven't been there in a while, and… forget it. Let's go."
Outside, he opens the car door for her, where a bouquet of roses sits. "I'm sorry. I know you are sick of flowers. We'll throw them out."
"No, they're beautiful. I shouldn't be so ungrateful. All of your gifts have been amazing. Those books! How did you get those?"
"Actually, they were Honor's, but she wanted you to have them."
"That's nice of her. And the pears? I took them home Saturday, and Babette made the most amazing pie with them. And the coffee cart? I tried to be annoyed, but I couldn't. I gave coffee to all my professors and the staff, and I never had to wait in line. Or pay. Really, thank you for all of it."
"You're welcome. I just wanted to make you happy. And maybe remind you that I used to be able to be the one who did that."
"I remember," she smiles as they start the drive to his apartment.
They ride up the elevator to his apartment in silence. They are both nervous, he can tell. He unlocks his door.
"Man, I hope you don't take that for granted," Rory laughs.
He laughs too, and instantly, the mood lightens. He helps her out of her coat and cardigan. His hands linger on her shoulders for a moment.
"Looks the same," Rory says as she walks in.
"It hasn't actually been that long. It just feels like forever. Wine?" he asks as he takes the bottle to the kitchen.
Rory nods, and he surreptitiously grabs the pro-con list off his fridge. This is not something she can see.
"What are these easels? Have you taken up painting?"
"No. Sadly, wooing you is the only hobby I currently have. And yes, I know how pathetic that sounds."
He pours two glasses of wine and takes them into the living room as Rory walks toward the bed so she can see the front of his charts.
"Wow, you aren't kidding. This is actually… well, it's creepy, but it's sweet. I do love all these things." She looks pointedly at him. "No question marks needed."
She still loves me. I am so lucky she is going to take me back.
"But what are the smiley faces?"
He pauses, unsure of how to answer this. "Actually, um… those are… things I will just have to show you… if I ever get to see you naked again."
Rory blushes bright red.
Crap- too much, too fast.
"Not tonight. I don't mean tonight," he stammers. "I mean, if I'm ever so lucky as to… um… get to-"
"Logan, it's okay." She smiles shyly at him. "You can mean tonight."
She reaches behind her and unzips her dress. It puddles around her on the floor, revealing a black lace bra and a garter belt with garters holding up her sheer stockings.
Logan's mouth goes dry. He sets down the glasses of wine and toes off his shoes.
"You're telling me you have had that on all night? In the newsroom?"
She giggles. "Yep. It's really not uncomfortable at all. You just can't wear panties with it."
Holy. Shit.
He crosses the room in three steps and puts his arms around her. He reaches under the skirt on her garter belt, and she is, in fact, bare.
"You haven't been wearing panties all night either?" His pants tighten.
"No," she giggles again, and it drives him crazy.
He kisses her hard, and she responds in kind. He trails his way down her neck and traces her collarbone with his tongue, causing her to moan. He grins against her.
"Smiley face," he whispers.
She wastes no time with his clothes. She slips her hand into his boxer briefs, and he groans.
I am going to come in my pants like a thirteen year old. Distract- 1st base: Jason Giambi. 2nd: Robinson Cano. Short: Jeter. 3rd: A-Rod.
She bites his shoulder. Baseball is not going to work.
He pulls her legs around him and carries her to his bed. "God, I love you so much," he whispers in her ear as he lays her down.
"I love you too, Logan. Ohhh…" she moans as he takes her nipple into his mouth.
Giggling, she says, "This isn't going to take long."
"Thank God."
Later as they lay together in bed, Rory pouts. "There are like ten smiley faces on that poster, and I only got three."
"I have to keep you coming back for more, Ace."
"Logan, I'm not going anywhere. This is where I want to be."
He sighs contentedly and pulls her closer until there is no space between their bodies.
"I've really missed this," Rory says quietly.
"Sex?" he laughs. "Me too."
"Lo-gan. Not the sex. This. Feeling close to you."
"I know what you mean." He kisses the back of her neck. "So you didn't miss the sex at all? Because we don't have to. We can just cuddle all the time," he teases.
"Shut up. Of course I missed it. We're really good at it… Stop smirking."
"How do you know I'm smirking?" he asks.
"Because I know you, and I know you know how good you are in bed."
"Only because it's with you."
"I can't imagine it would be this good with anyone else, can you?"
Unfortunately, I know it's not.
"Wait, never mind," she continues. "I don't want to know about all of your previous conquests."
He thinks for a minute before responding. "None of them matter, Rory. You are all I want. For me, no one measures up to you. And not just in bed. In all ways."
She snuggles in closer and kisses his forearm that is wrapped tightly around her.
I know I have to tell her about London. And she deserves to know about Walker and Claudia. But right now, all I want to do is spoon her until I fall asleep, then wake up in a few hours and start all over again.
This- Rory- is what I want for the rest of my life. It doesn't scare me anymore.
I guess Honor's next big project will be engagement rings.
He closes his eyes and drifts off.