A/N: Thank you all for the reviews, as usual. This chapter, to me, was a little difficult to write. My loved one was always sick around Christmas time, so it was hard to spend time with him. As much as I wished this chapter was better, it was hard to get the right perspective for it. However, I hope you all enjoy and continue to let me know what you think.
A week later was Christmas. The two were at their apartment in New Haven, inviting their family over for celebrations the next day. Rory, despite the outcry from her mother, had opted to spend the holiday with Logan. She and Lorelai had pushed their tradition up to the day after the festival so that they'd at least have celebrated together rather than not at all.
She woke up to the smell of breakfast, Christmas music, and the sounds of a fire crackling in the fireplace. She didn't open her eyes, not quite yet. Rather, she stretched before slowly awakening. He was playing Christmas music, he was cooking breakfast. This was the perfect way to wake up. Finally, she sat up and opened her eyes. He was standing in the kitchen in his Christmas pajamas she'd bought him when she went shopping with her mom the day after the Firelight festival.
The carpet was soft beneath her feet, but as she made her way to the kitchen, the hardwood chilled. At that moment, she wished she'd put on socks. "Something smells good," she told him, sitting at one of the bar stools, a steaming mug of coffee already waiting for her. She took a sip as he answered.
"Just some waffles," he replied with a smirk. He left the waffle iron for a moment, walking around the counter to stand beside her. "Merry Christmas," he said with a kiss. Her unoccupied arm wrapped around his waist, keeping him close for a minute longer. When they separated, both had smiles on their faces.
"Merry Christmas to you, too." She let go so that he could finish breakfast. "So, Lane and Zach can't make it tomorrow because his family is having this get together. But my mom's gonna stop by, so is Honor and Josh, and Colin and Finn."
"Can't have Christmas without those two," he chimed in, both smiling.
"My grandmother wants us to come by for Friday Night dinner this week. We've missed the last few, and they understand why, but she's almost made it mandatory we go this week. Oh, your dad called. He wants to have lunch with you next week. He didn't say why, but he wants you to give him a call back." Logan nodded along, his attention elsewhere.
"I'll call him in a couple days. And don't worry about scheduling, Ace. We'll get it all figured out. For right now," he walked around the counter again holding two plates, "let's eat." He sat next to her, taking a bite out of his own as she ate hers. She didn't know how she got so lucky to be with someone who knew how to cook something other than pop tarts.
They ate in silence, sharing looks with each other. When they finished, she put their plates in the dishwasher and he made his way to the couch. She joined him, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I love you," he told her softly. She smiled, eyes closed.
"Love you too." After a few more minutes, they separated, grabbing the wrapped gifts they'd gotten each other. They exchanged, and she let Logan go first.
"Oh my god," he said softly as he looked what was in his hands. He flipped through the pages, "Is this?"
"Every article that's been written by or about you since we've known each other. You can see the subtle changes in your writing. Not to mention what's being written about you. Going from playboy to successful businessman." He didn't respond as he glanced at each. "It reminds me of what you said to me to get me to jump. You can live a hundred years, but not live for a moment. You've lived a million moments, babe." He looked up, kissing her.
"Thank you. It's…. Wow." He then motioned for her to open hers. The wrapping came off and she came face to face with something she never thought she'd see.
"A first edition of Breakfast at Tiffany's?" she said, face lighting up. She flipped open the cover. "And signed by Capote? Thank you." They kissed again. The rest of the day was spent on the couch, watching Christmas Movies. That included some of her favorites, Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer, Miracle on 34th Street, and A Christmas Story, as well as some of his, Home Alone, It's a Wonderful Life, and Christmas in Connecticut. The day was finished up with some leftover Chinese from the previous night.
When they laid in bed that night, with him tracing patterns on her hip and her head on his chest, he spoke. "I think this is has to be the best Christmas I've had," he told her. "Growing up, Christmas was more of a formality and an excuse to host huge parties. And then we were separated last year. This was the first year I felt like I was at home for Christmas, and I finally got to spend it with someone I love." She didn't know how to respond, so, she just kissed him and hoped it conveyed all those thoughts racing in her head.
The next morning, she woke in a tangle of blankets and her head on his chest. His fingers were playing with her hair. She kept her eyes closed for another minute, not wanting to move from her spot.
"Colin and Finn will be here soon," he told her. "And we probably don't want to be naked when they get here."
"I'm not ready to get up though," she told him, snuggling into him a little more. He tightened his hold on her as she kissed his chest softly. He hummed softly as she continued her gentle kisses.
"Neither am I, but we don't need a repeat incident of Finn walking in on us," he reminded her with a small laugh. She looked up at him, remembering that incident very well. It took months for them to live it down, and even then, he had a knack for showing up at inopportune times.
"Okay, fine," she grumbled. As she was about to stand up, Logan pulled her back down for a quick kiss. "Love you," she told him when they separated. His answer was just a smile. She walked over to the closet, pulling out a tshirt and jeans for herself, tossing him one of his Henley's and a pair of khakis.
As the two finished getting dressed, there was a knock on the door. "You decent, loves?" Finn asked as he walked in. "I hope so." She could hear Colin laughing behind him. When he came into view, she walked over and gave him a tight hug. "Hello to you too, love."
"Logan, my man," Colin called out, embracing his friend for a moment. Once they'd greeted each other, they switched so that Rory was hugging Colin and Finn got Logan.
"So, what have you been up to?" Finn then asked, a knowing look on his face. Logan sighed, sitting on the couch, the three joining him. Rory leaned against him, his arm wrapping around her shoulder.
As the three caught up, the others started joining. First was Honor and Josh, profusely apologizing for being late although there was no set time for them to show up. Then came her mother, bearing food from both Sookie and Luke for the gathering.
It reminded her of the get together they'd had just a few months before. She was glad they had this family, unconventional as it may be. These were the people who cared about them the most. They had been there through it all. They had seen it at one point or another. Colin and Finn with his fall, Honor visiting at least once a week and seeing him get so sick he can't stand, her mom the week before. They were the people who understood what was happening and what they were going through. This made her smile, knowing they'd never be alone.
"It seems like I'm always the one to break the small talk at these dinners," Logan joked as they began setting down their empty plates. "I just want to thank you guys for everything you've done for us. Your support means more than you could understand. Next month, I have the defining appointment that tells me whether I'm in remission or not. If I'm not, I've decided not to continue with treatments. I wanted you guys to be the first to know this. You've all seen what this has done and how it makes me so sick, and I don't know if I'd be able to do that all over again for the small chance it would actually work."
"Mate," Finn said. "We all care about you, and we all will support your decisions. As much as we want to keep you around, it's selfish to try and talk you into treatment."
"I agree, man," Colin followed. "We want you to be happy with what time you have left." Honor wiped away tears as Josh tightened his arm around her shoulders.
"I kinda wanna be selfish," she admitted, turning towards her brother. "It's always been you and me against the world, Logan. I don't want to give that up."
"Look at it this way," Lorelai chimed in, "his appointment isn't until next month. So, we all might be worrying for nothing. There's a chance he's in remission. Because of that chance, we just need to take some deep breaths and not worry about it until then."
"Thank you, Lorelai," Logan then told her. "She has a point, but I just wanted to let you all know what's going on. You're our family, and you deserve to know."
When she and Logan had talked about it when Doctor Martinez's office had called to set up the appointment, she wasn't sure what to think. She understood his desire to not be sick from the chemo and the radiation for as long as he had left. But at the same time, she was very similar to Honor. She wanted to be selfish, she wanted to keep him for as long as she could. He was the love of her life, and she didn't want to lose him. However, she knew the ultimate decision wasn't hers to make. It was his, and even if she didn't agree with it, she would support it. She'd support him.