DISCLAIMER:
I own NOTHING!
I love reviews if you would like to leave me one. :-)
I started writing this story about a month ago, and just randomly decided to publish it, so I am currently re-reading everything that I have thus far, making edits and changes, and publishing each chapter as I go. I have quite a bit written so far, but I am also dealing with some writers block, so hopefully by re-reading and editing everything, I'll figure out where to go with this and get it finished. If anyone has any ideas of something they would like to see happen, please feel free to let me know.
10:30am
Huntzberger Mansion
Hartford, Connecticut
"Wow, you weren't joking!" Lorelai said as Richard pulled up to the gate of the Huntzberger estate.
"The gate should be opening." Logan told her as he pushed a button in the foyer.
"No one is going to follow us in, right?"
"They should know better than to set foot onto private property. Anyone who comes through the gate can and will be arrested. Go to the garage on the left. I am opening the door right now. Just pull right in. Don't open your doors until the garage door is secure."
"Wow, you are a professional!"
"Not my first rodeo. We only use this garage for situations like this. The regular garage is around the corner. I'm on my way to you." Logan said as he hung up the phone, while walking down a long hallway, then turning a corner, and opening the door to the garage. "Welcome to the bunker!"
"This is impressive!" Richard said looking around at the black walls of the empty garage.
"Dad had it made as impossible as he could for outsiders to get any kind of view. It is literally pitch black without the light on. The light stays off when the outside door is open, and only comes on once it is secured in place. It guarantees zero visuals of anything other than the car that entered."
"I didn't even know there was a garage here until I saw the wall move."
"That is the best part." Logan told him.
"It's like Fort Knox!" Lorelai told them as she pulled some bags out of the car, and Richard grabbed a box from the trunk.
"Lorelai, you've never been here, have you?"
"Not that I know of. But I've heard it's gorgeous."
"Mom and Dad normally have a staff here, but I sent them all home yesterday, until further notice."
"We should throw a rager!"
"It wouldn't be the first time I've done that." Logan laughed.
"Sounds like this place has seen some action." Richard chuckled.
"You can definitely say that." Logan agreed. "Come on inside. Rory is in the kitchen."
"Wow! This place has a kitchen too!?" Lorelai said in a fascinated childish voice.
"Yeah, we just got one! It cost us a fortune to have it invented!" Logan said as he lead them into the house to where Rory was waiting.
"Hey Mom! Hey Grandpa! Thank you so much for coming!"
"Now this is NOT what I expected a CEO of a multi national company to look like!" Lorelai said shocked. "Over sized clearly worn out clothing, barefoot, wet hair and zero makeup. Wow! You must have gone completely bankrupt!"
"No, just waiting for my glam squad."
"Well wait no longer, because I have arrived! Mommy to the rescue!" Where do you want to get glammed up?"
"Honor's room has the best lighting." Logan told them. "And she won't mind if you steal anything."
"Let's go!" Rory told her getting up from the stool where she had been drinking coffee at the bar. "Logan, I can take my coffee, right?"
"Who is going to stop you? Lorelai, Richard, would you like some?"
"I actually have some right here." Lorelai said pulling a large metal thermos out of the box that Richard had set down on the counter. "I also have donuts and pastries from both Luke's, Weston's and the Dragonfly."
"Oh hell to the yes!" Rory cheered. "You are the BEST Mommy in the universe!"
"Luke also sent pancakes, eggs, hash browns and bacon." Lorelai said holding up a large insulated bag."
"Here are some plates." Logan said opening a cabinet.
"Um, who is washing those?" Lorelai asked. "I have paper."
"You come prepared!"
"I just figure we won't be here too long, and none of us wants to be doing dishes."
"Good point!" Logan said as Rory and Lorelai quickly dug into the food, then took their plates, thermos of coffee, and a couple of the bags that Lorelai had brought in with them, and headed for Honor's bedroom.
"Wow! This house is amazing!" Lorelai said as she followed Rory.
"And it keeps on getting bigger. I've been here since last night, and I still haven't seen all of it."
"Are you guys going to hide out here for a while? Because it seems like a pretty nice resort to me."
"I know, right?! You should see outside. When we head to the helicopter pad out back, I'll show you where Logan proposed last night. It was gorgeous!"
"I can't wait!"
"So what did you bring me to wear?"
"Oh, just some skanky lingerie, fishnets, and lucite hooker heals."
"Very nice! Completely appropriate!"
"I thought so too! Shira calls you a gold digger for a reason, right?!"
"Might as well give her validation!" Rory laughed as they walked into Honor's bedroom and saw the sitting area with a beautiful lighted vanity, and dressing area off to the side with angled panel mirrors.
"Wow! Talk about a bedroom fit for a princess!" Lorelai gasped as they entered the room, and found somewhere to set their things down.
"Holy crap! I could live in here!"
"This is like my dream closet! Lorelai said walking around."
"And I thought Logan's bedroom across the hall was a luxury hotel!"
"This is the first time you've been in here?"
"Last night was the first time I had been anywhere outside the living and dining rooms."
"This place is insane! You could move a family of 6 into this house, and never see them again."
"Right?!" Rory agreed.
"This place makes my parents' house look like a shack!"
"For real! Now come on, we can be nosey later. We need to get me ready because right now I look a lot more like a homeless bum, than a CEO."
"Which is exactly why I brought you this!" Lorelai said unzipping a garment back and revealing a simple black Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany's style tea length dress.
"Wow! That is perfect! I love it! But where in the world did you find it?!"
"I actually saw it in a store a few weeks ago, and they only had it in your size, so I bought it for you with the intention of giving it to you for Christmas, but today just seemed like the perfect time for you to wear it. I've had it hanging in the back of my closet, just waiting for you."
"Mom, you are incredible! Thank you so much!"
"The heals are mine, and I'll eventually need them back, but you can borrow them for a while. I don't wear them very often."
"I feel like Cinderella already." Rory gushed.
"Just remember that no matter what anyone else says, you deserve this! And I am so proud of you!"
"Thank you Mommy! You know that I wouldn't be who I am, without you."
"You can thank me in your Nobel Prize speech. Now come sit. You need to eat while I do your hair. It's going to be a really long day, and you are going to need all the strength and energy you can possibly muster to get through it." Lorelai said getting Rory situated at the vanity.
"Do you really think that I can do this Mom?"
"I really do. You can do anything that you set your mind do. And it looks like Logan is going out of his way to set you up for success."
"He is absolutely amazing Mom! I am so happy!"
"I know you are. It's written all over your face."
45 minutes later there was a knock at the bedroom door.
"Come on in!" Lorelai called.
"Hey, you guys almost ready?" Logan asked as he entered the room.
"We just finished. I present to you, the new CEO of the Huntzberger Publishing Group, your fiance, Rory!" she said as Rory walked out of Honor's bathroom.
"Wow!" Logan voiced, his mouth dropping open.
"She looks incredible, doesn't she?!"
"I . . . I don't know what to say . . ." Logan stammered.
"You really think I look ok? It isn't too much?" Rory asked shyly.
"Absolutely not! You look like Audrey Hepburn, but with better hair." Logan said admiring the loose curls that gently cascaded over one shoulder.
"That is exactly what I was going for." Lorelai told him.
"If I wasn't completely in love with you already, this would have tipped me over the edge." Logan said moving toward Rory, and pulling her into his arms. "You look absolutely amazing! I can't wait to show you off!"
"Are you sure? Because if it's too much, I can change into something else." Rory told him.
"Don't you dare!" Logan said giving her a chaste kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"Come here. I know the perfect accessories to go with that dress." Logan said taking Rory's hand and escorting her to Honor's walk in closet.
"Oh holy moly!" Lorelai said following them in. "Can I just die and go right to heaven?! It's like a freaking designer mecca in here!"
"If you see something you like, grab it. Honor rarely uses any of this stuff anymore. Whenever her closet gets too full at her house, whatever she doesn't want to get rid of, she brings here. She lets close friends shop here all time." Logan told them as he pulled out a black coat, then reached onto the shelf above and grabbed an over sized black purse.
"Are you serious?" Lorelai asked.
"I am. Grab whatever you want. We'll come back later tonight, so you can go shopping then if you want to. No rush."
"Can I just move in?"
"I don't think anyone would even notice if you did." Logan laughed. "Do you have sunglasses?" he asked opening a cabinet to display a large selection of sunglasses in all different colors and styles.
"Oh my gosh! No way! Can I have these?!" Lorelai asked picking up a pair of Cartier glasses.
"They're yours!"
"Really?!"
"Really!" Logan told her.
"I used to have some of these when I was 14. I thought I was the coolest kid in the world! Thank you so much Logan!"
"You are very welcome. Rory, what do you think of these?"
"Oooh! Versace! I like!" Lorelai said admiring the glasses.
"Would you like these too?"
"No, I love what I've got, but those would look fabulous on Rory!"
"Are you sure that Honor is ok with us taking her stuff?" Rory asked.
"Would you like me to call her?" Logan asked her.
"No, I believe you. I've just never seen so much designer stuff in my entire life!"
"You'll be a Huntzberger soon enough. Get used to it." Logan told her as his phone rang. "This is Logan . . . Wonderful! Thank you, we'll be right there." he said, then disconnected the call. "The chopper is 5 minutes out. We need to get going. You can leave all your stuff here. We'll be back tonight. We're going to camp out here for the weekend."
"Can I party here too?" Lorelai asked as they left the closet and headed out of Honor's bedroom.
"If you'd like to. The more the merrier."
"I need to go grab my purse and phones from your room." Rory said as she started to head across the hall.
"They are already downstairs with your laptop."
"Wow! You are a mind reader!"
"I do my best." Logan smiled, leading the ladies down the stairs and through the house, back to the kitchen to where Richard was waiting for them, reading a newspaper.
"Rory, you look absolutely beautiful!" Richard said as the trio entered the kitchen.
"Is it too much Grandpa? Because if it is, we can change it."
"Absolutely not! You look stunning! Just like a CEO should. This is a really big day for you Honey. Take a deep breath, and try to enjoy it. Let Logan and I worry about everything else."
"Thank you Grandpa. I am so glad that you are here. I always feel more relaxed just having you around. You, Mom, and Grandma have always held me up when I've felt weak."
"We are family. That is our job. Now let's get going, there is a helicopter trying to land outside."
"Here is your coat." Logan said holding the black coat he had pulled out of Honor's closet out for Rory to put on, then handing her the sunglasses.
"Let's move your things into this other purse." Lorelai told her "Logan, that box is the soup for your Dad, and some sandwiches for us, for later on. Sookie has everything on ice."
"Please tell her thank you for me." Logan said as he reached for the box.
"I most definitely will. Sookie loves doing this stuff. It's exactly why she became a chef. She said something about making 4 or 5 different kinds of soup. It smelled delicious when I walked into the kitchen at the Inn."
"Sookie is amazing!" Richard told them. "Now, are we ready?"
"I think so." Rory told them as she grabbed her purse. "I've never flown in a helicopter before."
Just before noon the helicopter landed on the roof of the Huntzberger Publishing Group, and Logan escorted the Gilmore family inside to Rory's office, where they were met by Doyle.
"How was your flight?" Doyle asked.
"It was great!" Lorelai told him. "Way less frightening that I remember as a child. It's nice to see you again Doyle. How are Paris and the twins?"
"They are great! The twins miss you. You should stop by when you have some time."
"I would love to! We will set something up."
"Doyle, is everyone here?" Logan asked.
"They are all in the conference room."
"Has my Dad arrived?" Rory asked.
"Not yet. He is the only person I have yet to see. Mr. McCray and Mr. Morgan were the last ones to arrive. The boardroom is prepared for the 1:00 meeting, and then there will be a brief press conference following that."
"Perfect. Please take this box to Sandra and have her give it to Frank from the car service when he gets here, and let her know to bring Mr. Hayden to the conference room as soon as he arrives. We'll see you in there." Logan said handing the box to Doyle, then leading everyone out of the room, and to the conference room down the hall.
"Rory, you look amazing! I am so excited to finally have you as my sister!" Honor said jumping out of her seat and hurrying over to hug Rory as soon as she walked through the door.
"Thank you Honor. And thank you for coming." Rory smiled.
"Lorelai, Mr. Gilmore, it is so nice to see you again."
"Thank you all for coming." Logan said taking a seat at the table next to Collin. "I am so sorry that you are all having to deal with this crap, but we need to figure out how to handle it as a family, before dealing with the business and media side of things."
"Can I just say Thank you to Rory for stepping up, and taking on this company so that I didn't have to?" Honor asked. "I knew Logan doesn't want it, and frankly, I know nothing about it, so thank you Rory! Thank you for saving my life!"
"Um, you're welcome?" Rory chuckled.
"Question" Logan started. "Does anyone other than Rory, Honor and I have the circus outside of their home?"
"It's not too bad at my house, but there is a small group of them. Nothing like what is outside the main house, and your apartments. I drove by there by the way, out of curiosity."
"I was at Logan's this morning to get Rocky." Finn spoke up.
"Thank you for that Finn." Logan told him. "Rocky is at Collin's now?"
"Yes, Stephanie and little Valerie are taking care of him." Collin answered.
"Thank you Collin. You guys are amazing friends! How did you know that I needed someone to take Rocky?"
"I just knew that you weren't in town, and with the circus showing up, I knew from experience that you wouldn't be coming back any time soon, so someone needed to rescue the k-9. I wasn't about to go deal with that nightmare, so I sent Finn."
"Finn told the circus that we are in Hawaii." Rory smirked.
"No, I told them that you said aloha, and wished them a fabulous day. I never told them where you were, just that you were out of state. They can draw their own conclusions from there."
"It was a pretty clever move, if I do say so myself." Collin added.
"Maybe we should run away to Hawaii." Honor told them. "Mom is with a sitter, Dad has his own sitters at the hospital, and the circus is just the circus, so Hawaii is sounding really good right about now."
"Don't I wish!" Rory told her.
"Richard, you don't have anyone outside your home?" Logan asked.
"Not at this time. I've received several phone calls, but just let people know that they will have to reach out to HPG directly for comment on the matter. The only question that Emily or I will answer, is that yes, our granddaughter is indeed engaged."
"Perfect answer! Lorelai, has the circus invaded Stars Hollow?"
"Not that I've seen, but if they do, I'm sure both Luke and Taylor will drive them right now."
"Oh, I'm sure Taylor will be all over that!" Rory laughed as the door opened, and everyone looked up to see who was joining them.
"Hey Everybody! Nice to see you all!" Christopher said walking into the room, and taking a seat next to Doyle.
"Perfect timing!" Logan told him. "We are discussing the circus invasion."
"There are people at my parent's house."
"What!? How?!" Lorelai asked.
"The board knows that I'm a Hayden." Rory told everyone.
"Is Francine completely freaking out?"
"No, because she isn't even there!" Christopher answered. "Mom is rarely in Hartford anymore. She spends most of her time in Boston with Gigi and I. We got a call from one of the neighbors this morning, letting us know that there is a swarm of press outside her gate."
"But there is no one in Boston?" Logan asked.
"Not at the moment! It's like I don't even exist. I walked right past the swarm outside this building, like I'm completely invisible or something." Chris laughed. "It's kind of nice actually."
"So what do we do until they leave?" Rory asked.
"Same thing we always do." Honor spoke up. "We give them a little bit of information at a press conference, then hide out and wait for the storm to die. They'll eventually get bored and go away."
"We just need a Kardashian to do something stupid this weekend." Collin added.
"I honestly just don't understand why people even care what I do." Logan said with a roll of his eyes. "Even Paris Hilton is a nobody again. People only knew her from reality tv and sex tapes."
"Same with the KarTrashians." Lorelai added.
"And I haven't done any of that!" Logan told them.
"Well, there is a huge benefit here for you." Richard started. "You own the newspapers, therefor, YOU own the narrative! You can publish whatever information you want, and you have full control of exactly what information that is. Your words won't be misconstrued when you are the one publishing them."
"See, that's a positive outcome to all of this!" Christopher announced happily.
"And this is why we keep my Dad around." Lorelai smiled.
"So here is what we do. We release a blanket statement today, and then this weekend we spend writing up a happy story that we have published in all the Huntzberger papers on Monday. Everyone else can pick it up on the AP wire." Richard announced.
"So I guess I am the one writing the story then." Rory said flatly.
"Honey, it's your story to tell. We can have someone else write it, but then you loose some control of what is said." Lorelai explained.
"Plus, no one knows your story better than you do." Christopher told her.
"You can even do it as an introduction to the new CEO." Doyle announced. "Kind of a 'Hi, this is me' piece."
"That is perfect!" Honor agreed.
"And Doyle just confirmed my decision to hire him." Logan announced. "This is why I hired people with experience. Richard, would you like a job?"
"No thank you, Son! I am perfectly happy being semi-retired. But I am willing to consult at any time." Richard told him with a proud chuckle.
"So now we just need to figure out what we want to say to the media today to make them back off a little." Honor told them.
"We will decide that with the PR team in the next meeting." Logan agreed.
"Should we designate a family spokesperson?" Christopher asked.
"NOT I, said the cat!" Honor laughed.
"I second that." Lorelai agreed. "But what about Dad? You are the patriarch of the family. Would you mind speaking for the Gilmores?"
"Of course I will. I don't mind at all."
"So Christopher, that makes you the Hayden person."
"Can't I hide in with the Gilmore clan?"
"We're a gang, not a clan. Get it right!" Lorelai corrected him.
"Lorelai is right, Christopher. The Hayden family needs to release a statement as well." Richard told him.
"Alright, well then just tell me what to say." Christopher agreed.
"We just say that we are thrilled for Rory and Logan, this engagement has been a very long time coming, and that will all of Rory's accomplishments and accolades throughout the last several years, as well as her years at Yale, we think that she is an amazing addition to the Huntzberger Publishing Group, and will do a wonderful job."
"So then I guess that leaves me to speak for the Huntzberger family." Logan said. "Collin, you're my attorney."
"You can say whatever you want." Collin told him.
"But wouldn't it be weird for me to speak about my relationship for my family?"
"Logan has a point." Christopher agreed.
"What about Honor?" Finn asked.
"Do I really have to?"
"I think it would be best if you would say a few words." Richard told her. "It doesn't have to be a lot. It can be very short. Just speak from the heart. Tell everyone that your father is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery. Then go on to tell them just how happy you are to welcome Rory to the family, and that your family fully supports her stepping into the very big shoes your father fills, and that you have every confidence that Rory will successfully lead the company with honor, dignity, and integrity."
"Collin, you still get to speak for me. I'm sure I'll need to give some kind of statement."
"You know I'll say whatever you want me to. You pay me enough, I'm your circus monkey now." Collin told him.
"What information are we releasing about Dad?" Honor asked as they all heard a phone start to ring.
"That is me. Excuse me, I need to take this." Rory said getting up from her seat, and quickly leaving the room.
"This is Rory!" she said, cheerfully answering the call.
"Rory, it's Stewart do you have a moment?"
"Of course, what can I do for you?"
"Can you stop by the office today? I know you requested an extended leave due to personal and family circumstances, but in light of recent events, we need to have a meeting."
"Sure, I would be happy to. I have a few things that I need to take care of this afternoon, but would 4:00 be alright?"
"That will be fine. Thank you Rory. We will see you then." Steward said, then ended the call.
"Um, someone should probably go check on Rory." Honor suddenly said, seeing Rory thru the glass wall of the conference room, as she leaned back against the hallway wall with a sigh, her eyes closed and head tilted back. Logan, Richard and Lorelai quickly spun their chairs around so they could see what was going on, and both Logan and Lorelai jumped up and rushed out of the room.
"What's going on?" Lorelai asked as they hurried to Rory's side. "Is everything ok?"
"My boss at the Times just called. They want me to come in for a meeting today."
"Ok, well that's not a bad thing."
"He said that he knows that I asked for an LOA for personal and family reasons. But in light of recent events, we need to have a meeting." Rory told them.
"Yikes!"
"It'll be ok. What time is the meeting?" Logan asked.
"4pm." Rory said flatly.
"Alright. Collin and I will go with you."
"I'm loosing my job. I just know it. I can feel it. I have this sickening stabbing burn in the pit of my stomach. Everything that I have worked so hard for, is about to completely go up in flames!"
"No, Rory, that's not true. You have no idea what is going to happen at the meeting. They probably just want to know the truth about what is going on." Lorelai said in a soothing voice.
"Let's go sit down, we need to discuss this with Collin." Logan said softly, brushing a tear from Rory's face that suddenly appeared from her eyes. "Everything will be ok. We will handle this. I promise! I will do everything in my power to make this better."
"But what if you can't?"
"Then maybe we will just have to buy the Times." Logan smirked. "Come on, let's go sit down."
"Rory, Honey, is everything ok?" Christopher asked as Lorelai and Logan guided her back into the room, and got her seated at the table.
"Rory's boss called. 4pm meeting at the Times." Logan said looking directly at Collin.
"What did he say?" Collin asked.
"That even though I asked for LOA due to personal and family issues, in light of recent events, they want to have a meeting. I'm loosing my job." Rory said softly as more tears emerged.
"Did he say that?"
"Not directly that I'm being fired, but it was in his tone."
"Honey, you don't know that you are being fired. They probably just need to know what is going on." Lorelai said, trying to console her daughter.
"When you were first hired on with the Times, did you have to sign any contracts? Something like a non compete disclosure? They usually say that you can't work for any competitors for a certain amount of time during and post employment."
"I don't know, maybe? It was a long time ago." Rory said as Collin pulled his phone out and started typing quickly. "I just have this really bad feeling."
"If they did have you sign a non compete disclosure, working for HPG would definitely void your contract, which is probably grounds for immediate termination. I'm sorry to say, there is really no way to sugar coat that one, and Logan actually pays me not to sugar coat anything. But the good news is that there is an up side."
"And what is that?" Honor asked.
"We just buy the Times. You can't compete when they are under the same umbrella."
"You can't just up and buy the Times." Lorelai said rolling her eyes.
"Actually, my Dad has been wanting to buy them for years." Honor told her.
"If you managed to acquire the times during your second day as CEO of this company, I'm pretty sure that would be all the confirmation that Mitchum needs to just retire immediately, and let you run the company from here on out."
"Come on you guys, let's be realistic. Rory can't just up and buy the New York Times." Lorelai told them.
"Honey, you would actually be surprised what the Huntzberger family can do." Richard said softly. "Your mother and I definitely can't afford to buy the Times, but HPG . . ."
"What if we combined the Gilmore and Hayden money?" Christopher joked. "We could own them, and hand them to Rory as a play toy."
"Christopher!" Lorelai hissed. "Stop it!"
"How much money do you think we can access?" Collin asked.
"You guys! Stop it!" Lorelai snapped.
"You guys, I am not buying the Times. Get real." Rory told them.
"But you could. You have the power. Mitchum has been wanting to buy the Times for years! You could literally be his favorite person in the universe!" Collin told her.
"I wouldn't do something like that without talking to Mitchum anyway. That is a lot of money to spend."
"But you have the power, and it would be an immediate return on your investment."
"I'm not buying the Times you guys. At least not today."
"But you could." Collin told her.
"Collin, making giant crazy purchases out of the blue is YOUR thing, not mine! I am not going to randomly go out and buy the Times. But if you would like to do it, by all means, be my guest!" Rory told him.
"Ok, let's get the focus back." Doyle told them. "We have another meeting to get to."
"So as far as the rest of the day goes . . ." Logan started. "We have another meeting here, then a brief press conference. Following that, Rory has to be at the Times."
"Are you planning to go see Dad?" Honor asked.
"I am. Sookie sent soup for him, so I asked Frank to pick it up here and deliver it to the nurses station for me.
"I'll go over after the press conference and make sure he eats."
"Thank you." Logan told her. "Lorelai, would you and Christopher mind going to Rory's apartment, and packing her a bag? We are going to stay in Hartford for the weekend. That house is much more secure than either of our apartments here."
"Yeah, sure, no problem." Lorelai answered.
"Would you mind if I went to the hospital with Honor?" Richard asked. "I would love to give my regards to your father."
"Richard, I would love that!" Honor told him. "Please come with me. Dad will love seeing you!"
"I will add you to the visitors list." Logan told him. "Finn, can you be trusted to go to my apartment to get my things?"
"I got your dog, didn't I?" Finn answered.
"Did you get his food?"
"No, I did not."
"I'll make you a list." Logan told him.
"Splendid idea!"
"Honor, will you be staying in the city this weekend?"
"Yeah, my house is pretty secure, and I'm used to this nonsense. I'll be ok. But if you need me to come to Hartford, I will."
"Doyle, you can do the same as today. Work from home, work from the office, do whatever. You know how to find us." Logan told him.
"No problem. I just got a message that they are ready for us in the board room." Doyle said looking up from his phone.
"Thank you. If the rest of you will excuse us, I need to borrow Rory, Richard and Collin for the next meeting. But please, stick around the office until the press conference. You can redecorate Rory's office if you want." Logan announced, rising from his chair, and reaching for Rory's hand.
"Mom, is my makeup ok?" Rory asked.
"One second." Lorelai said pulling a compact out of her purse, then standing up and quickly dabbing some concealer under Rory's eyes. "All better."
"Thank you!"
"No problem Sweetie. Mommy is happy to help. Try not to worry too much. Everything is going to be ok."
"I'm trying." Rory said taking a deep breath, slowly releasing it, then following Logan out of the room.
"Honor, I have an idea. I need your help." Lorelai said looking toward Honor as soon as the door was closed.
"Sure!"
"I want to do something fun this weekend since Rory and Logan will be in Hartford, and they almost never get any time away."
"I'm in! What are you thinking?"
"I know that our mothers will be planning some big lavish engagement party once your Dad is recovered, and able to move around again. But I was thinking of throwing a party in Stars Hollow on Saturday. It's Rory's birthday. I know that it's only two days away, and doesn't give us much time to plan, but really, it's the Hollow, and it can totally be done! It'll just be the town and some really close friends, and maybe my parents if I decide to invite them."
"What about me?" Christopher asked.
"No way! You'll ruin it! Stay away!" Lorelai joked with a swish of her hand.
"Am I invited to this little shindig, or am I just chopped liver?" Finn asked.
"Only if you promise to be on your very best behavior!" Lorelai told him. "I've heard quite a few stories about you. In fact, I think you probably need a babysitter, right?"
"That's what Collin and Stephanie are for."
"Deal! You can come with them!" Lorelai agreed.
"Lorelai, I am totally there!" Honor told her! Just tell me what you need me to do."
"Let's get Luke and Sookie on the phone. Chris, I need your phone."
"Lor, you have your own phone." Christopher told her.
"I know that! But I need to make two phone calls at the exact same time, and I need to put them both on speaker so everyone can hear each other, so give me your phone please." Lorelai said holding her hand out. "Thank you!" she said then quickly began to dial.
"Dragonfly Inn, Michel speaking." the french voice came over the speaker.
"Hi Michel, it's Lorelai."
"How are things in the city?"
"They are going well. It's a long story. I need a favor, can I talk to Sookie?"
"Oh good, you don't want the favor from me. One moment please!" Michel said as he headed through the inn toward the kitchen, as Lorelai reached into her purse and pulled out her own phone.
"Luke's Diner." a voice said a moment later.
"Hey Luke, it's me!"
"Me who?"
"Me, your wife! What other women call you at work? Geez!" Lorelai said sarcastically.
"Hey Lorelai!" Sookie said taking the phone from Michel.
"Are you back from the city already?" Luke asked. "Are you at the Dragonfly?"
"No, I'm still in the city. I am here with Honor, Chris and Logan's friend Finn. I have an idea, and I need both of you, Luke and Sookie to help me out, so I've got you both on speaker phone." Lorelai explained.
"Ok . . ." Luke said flatly.
"Yes! I'm in!" Sookie said excitedly. "I hope this is what I think it is!"
"I want to throw a party."
"YES!" Sookie squealed.
"I want to throw a party this weekend. On Saturday. As a surprise for Rory and Logan."
"But I thought your mom was planning an engagement party with Mrs. Huntzberger once her husband is doing better?" Luke asked.
"She is. Some expensive lavish thing. But I want to throw my own party. Just for our friends in the Hollow. Plus, it's Rory's birthday. Will you guys help me?"
"I am all over it!" Sookie told her.
"Like I have a choice." Luke grumbled.
"I will be back home later tonight. I'll let you know when we get back to Hartford, and we can get together then." Lorelai told them.
"I will start planning right now! I'll call up Miss Patty and Babbette and meet them at the Diner in an hour." Sookie told them.
"Thank you Sookie! Luke, I'll call you when we are done here. Love you!" Lorelai said, then disconnected the calls, and handed Chistopher back his phone. "Ok, so when I get back to the Hollow, I'll let you guys know the plan." Lorelai told them.
"Hey Lor, can I get a room at the Dragonfly for a couple days?" Christopher asked. "I figure if you are having a party for our kid, I should probably stick around town to help."
"Sure, that would be great actually! I'll text Michel. Honor, would you like one too?"
"If you want, but it's not necessary. Josh and I can stay at my parents' house with Logan and Rory. It'll keep the circus away from your town."
"That is probably a good idea." Lorelai agreed. "I am so excited! I am so going to trump my mother on this one!"
"So, where are we going to have this party at?" Christopher asked.
"The town square of course! I'm thinking something funky but classy. Maybe we could do an 80's dance party? Something fun!"
"What about a midsummer night's dream?" Honor asked.
"I love it!" Lorelai agreed.
"Let me do decorations. I've always wanted to throw a midsummer night's dream party. Josh and I will drive down tonight, and I'll take a look at the location and then tomorrow I'll go meet with my florist in Hartford and get everything taken care of. I'm sure she can pull it off exactly how I envision it."
"That would be incredible! You guys should come stay at the house. You can have Rory's room."
"That would be lovely, but I don't want to put you out."
"Don't be silly. It's not a problem at all. Rory obviously isn't going to be there. She won't mind at all. It'll be fun. We can have a slumber party."
"Thank you Lorelai, you are so sweet! I can't wait! I am calling my florist right now to let her know." Honor said pulling her phone out of her purse.
"So what do you need from me?" Christopher asked.
"No idea yet." Lorelai laughed. "Sookie and Luke will take care of food, Honor has flowers and decorations. Maybe just a hand here and there. You are the father of the bride, so we definitely need you included."
"Is it going to be weird for Luke having me there?"
"Come on Chris, don't be silly. It wasn't weird when we were all at Rory's house a couple weeks ago, so why would it be weird now? We are all family, and we are doing this for Rory. Besides, you saw how upset she just was about the whole job thing. Taking over HPG may be great for her career wise, but losing the one job she has worked her entire life for, that has to hurt!"
"Collin is right about the voided contract. I didn't want to say anything in front of Rory, but I'm pretty sure Collin is right."
"It sucks, but Rory will be ok. We will get her through this. Just like we always do. And she is about to be so busy that she will forget all about it pretty quick. Everything is going to be just fine." Lorelai told him.