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~~~ Self Quarantine Day ten billion ~~~
* Online summer school officially started this week
* Trying to figure out how the heck my 4 year old has an almost 101 fever when she hasn't been around anyone in months . . .
* I need tacos
I hope you are all doing well, and continue to remain healthy and happy.
"So your Mom is either really changing, or that rehab center has got her on some damn good drugs!" Rory commented as Logan followed her up the stairs to go put away their Christmas gifts.
"Right?! Remind me to call her therapist this week, so I can find out what kind of miracle drug she's on." Logan laughed.
"Did you know that a magical personality drug actually exists?"
"I had no idea, but that stuff needs to be immediately mass marketed because I know A LOT of people who could really benefit from it."
"I completely agree! That woman was pleasant! Not only did she send me a present, but it was actually very nice and thoughtful. THEN, she even offered to help with the nursery while she's having Honor's nursery done. Your mother hates me! That woman we talked to looks like Shira, but do you think she's had a complete brain transplant? Because she's NEVER been nice to me."
"She said that she's proud of me!"
"I know!"
"And then when I was shocked and speechless, she told me to not act so surprised to hear her say those words. And she bought me a customized lab coat!"
"Then she offered to have more made for you!" Rory added. "Something just doesn't add up here!"
"Hey, I don't mean to intrude on you guys, but can we talk about Mom's sudden personality change?" Honor asked a minute later, suddenly appearing in the doorway to Logan and Rory's bedroom.
"Mom said that she's proud of me!" Logan said, turning to face his sister.
"I know! And I'm speechless!"
"Is it bad that whatever miracle drug she's on, I hope you guys never have to take her off if it?" Rory asked.
"I just want to know what the miracle drug's name is so I can start prescribing it." Logan laughed.
"I want to like this new pleasant Mom, but she kind of terrifies me." Honor told them.
"What does Josh think?" Logan asked.
"He says those are some damn good drugs that they've got her on."
"I said the exact same thing." Rory chuckled.
"I don't understand where this new nice version of Mom came from. I'm wondering if it's just a relaxed California version of the dragon lady. And if it is, maybe we should move her out there permanently. Hell, maybe we'll send Dad there too." Logan told them.
"I think that might be the best idea you've ever had!" Honor agreed. "Whatever miracle drug they've got Mom on, maybe we can get Dad on the same thing. He's just been nasty lately."
"I know! Right after the first heart attack, Dad was actually being semi-pleasant. But now . . ."
"He's been really mean all week." Rory agreed.
"Something is going on with our parents, and I'm almost scared to ask what it is." Honor commented.
"Knock knock." a voice was heard from the bedroom door.
"Come on in, Mom." Rory answered.
"I'm sorry to intrude, but did I just hear Emily saying that Shira was pleasant and friendly to you guys?" Lorelai asked as she joined them in the bedroom.
"She said that she is proud of me!" Logan told her.
"That's what Josh said!" Lorelai told him, plopping down on the bed, completely baffled as to what was suddenly going on.
"She bought us nice, thoughful gifts, and told me to not act so surprised to hear he say that she's actually proud of me. She thinks she's said it before and swears that this wasn't the first time."
"Maybe just the first time in our lives that we can actually remember after we started having memories when we were like 3 or 4." Honor mused.
"What kind of miracle happy drug is she on?" Lorelai asked as Rory sat down on the bed next to her.
"That's the million dollar question!" Logan told her.
"I just don't get it. Mom has NEVER been this pleasant to be around. I actually enjoyed talking to her, and that is something that has never happened. Mom is one of those people that you tolerate because you have to, but definitely not someone that you actually enjoy spending time with. She's not Lorelai." Honor laughed.
"Mom, you didn't suddenly pull a Freaky Friday and switch bodies with Shira, did you?" Rory asked.
"Not that I know of. And for the record, that is a completely terrifying idea!" Lorelai told them.
"Logan, what do we do about this? Do you think it's permanent?" Honor asked.
"I doubt it. I'm going to call Mom's therapist this week. I may wait a few days, but I'm definitely going to start asking some questions because this friendly behavior definitely isn't normal!"
"But wouldn't it be nice if Mom actually changed, and she was pleasant to be around?"
"It would be. But I don't recommend getting your hopes up. Never in our lives, has mom ever been pleasant!"
"I know that, but do you ever think that maybe it might be nice to have a normal, happy, loving relationship with mom, like the kind that Rory and Lorelai have?"
"You do know that even I don't have that kind of relationship with my own mother, right?" Lorelai asked.
"Yeah, Mom and Grandma are constantly at each other's throats." Rory told them. "Sometimes I think that maybe the only reason that my mom and I have the freakishly close relationship that we do, is that we kind of both grew up together. I mean, Mom had me when she was only 16, so it was more or less a baby raising a baby. Mom and I are close because we are pretty close in age, so for me, it was more like growing up with my best friend, rather than a real Mom."
"I agree with Rory. I did things completely different with Rory than my mom did with me, and I think that the main reason that I was able to raise Rory the way I did, was that I was still a child myself, and trying to figure out my own life, and I didn't want for Rory anything that my parents had wanted for me. Rory was all that I had. It was always just her and I. Rory became my best friend, and it never occurred to me that maybe I should treat her any different. Up until Rory started college, we did everything together. I never really needed to be the type of parent that my parents were. I mean, there were a few minutes there, when Rory first got into Chilton, the couple days after she met Dean, that I had to pull the Mom card, and put my foot down about her switching schools, but otherwise Rory has always been a really great kid."
"Can we please not bring up ex boyfriends in front of my husband?" Rory asked.
"Why? Logan already knows about both of them, doesn't he?" Honor asked.
"Of course I do!" Logan told them. "I just don't like either of them."
"And he gets kind of squirmy and jealous." Rory added.
"I do not get jealous." Logan told them.
"Um, what was last week then?" Lorelai asked. "When Rory was talking to Jess, and you came to ask me if you had anything to worry about?"
"Oh really?!" Rory asked, cocking an eyebrow at her husband.
"I've just never liked the guy." Logan defended himself.
"And you wondered what he was up to. If he was trying to convince Rory to leave you." Lorelai added.
"I never said that."
"But you thought it."
"Of course, I'm a guy. That's just how my brain works."
"And I'm sure Rory does the same thing when she sees you talking to other girls." Honor said comfortingly.
"Yeah, but I've given her plenty of reasons to wonder in the past."
"Rory wouldn't have married you if she had any doubts."
"I wouldn't have gotten back together with you if I had any doubts." Rory added.
"Anyway!" Lorelai said, interrupting the change in topic. "I honestly don't think that anyone else on the planet has the freakish relationship with their mother that Rory and I do."
"For real! My first night at Yale, Mom had to come stay with me, because I missed her the second she left. I didn't want to be away from her. I wasn't ready yet. Who does that?!"
"You've definitely got a point there!" Honor agreed. "We couldn't wait to be free of our parents! Why do you think Logan loved boarding school so much?!"
"See, I wish I had gotten to go to boarding school!" Lorelai laughed. "I can't even imagine what that kind of freedom would have been like!"
"Knock knock." A voice called from the door. Everyone looked up to see Francine standing in the doorway. "I'm sorry to break up your little party, but could we borrow Logan for a moment, downstairs?"
"Sure, what's going on?" Logan asked.
"Luke was just checking on the Turkey in the oven, and managed to burn his arm."
"Oh my gosh!" Lorelai gasped, jumping up and running out of the room.
"Let's go." Logan said, holding his hand out to help Rory up from the bed, then following the girls out of the room, and down the stairs. "Honor, will you grab the medical bag out of my office, please?"
"Logan, thank goodness!" Emily said as Logan hurried into the kitchen.
"Let me see what we've got here." Logan said as he leaned over the sink where Luke was holding his arm under the water faucet.
"I went to baste the turkey, and I burned my arm trying to pull the rack out." Luke told him as Logan pulled his arm out from under the water.
"Can we get a little space here?" Logan asked as Honor set his medical bag on the kitchen counter.
"Everyone go back to what you were doing, the doctor needs some space to work." Emily said, making a shooing motion with her arms, trying to move people out of the way.
Anna, would you mind basting the turkey for me?" Luke asked.
"No problem, I've got it." Anna agreed.
"All these people in the house, and only two who know how to cook." Luke joked.
"Make that three." Logan told him. "I've only made a turkey once in my life, while I was away at boarding school, but I'm pretty sure I can still manage to do it myself. It looks like you've probably got a second degree burn here. It's going to be kind of painful for a while, but it could definitely be a lot worse. I'll get you wrapped up, but we've gotta keep it clean, and bandaged up for a while. You're here for the new few days, so I'll be able to keep an eye on you until you leave. What is your pain level on a scale of 1-10?"
"About a 7."
"I don't have any good pain killer here, except maybe some whiskey. I can take you down to the ER though, and get you all bandaged up there, if you'd like."
"No, I don't think the ER is really necessary, do you?"
"Not at all. Now, if I was working today, that would be an entirely different story. Hey Ace, would you mind going in the safe and grabbing me a bottle of whiskey?"
"No problem." Rory smiled.
"You keep alcohol in your safe?" April asked.
"I'll explain it later." Honor told her.
"Let's go sit down at the table, I think it'll be easier if you're comfortable." Logan said as he reached for a towel for Luke's arm, and shut off the running water.
"That looks bad." Lorelai said as she helped Luke over to the table, and got him seated.
"I've seen a lot worse."
"Well I would hope so!" Luke joked as Logan set his medical bag down on the table, and began to pull things out.
"Lorelai, there is a first aid kit in the bottom drawer next to the dishwasher, would you mind grabbing it for me?" Logan asked.
"Whiskey, and a shot glass." Rory said as she set a bottle of whiskey down next to Logan.
"Wow, you've got the good stuff!" Luke said, shocked to see the expensive bottle of Maccallan sitting in front of him.
"It's Logan's drink of choice."
"I think I've only had this stuff once."
"It's definitely worth the price." Logan smiled as he poured Luke a large shot. "Drink up."
*~ *~ * ~* Later That Evening * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Thanks for taking care of Luke today." Rory said as she snuggled into bed with Logan that night.
"You don't need to thank me for that. It's my job."
"I know. But I really appreciate you taking such great care of him."
"I'm just glad the burn wasn't worse. Luke is a pretty tough guy."
"He seemed to really like that whiskey."
"I can't say that I even blame him." Logan smiled. "Did you have a good Christmas?"
"I had an amazing Christmas! I love having the whole family here. I've never had my whole family together for a holiday, in my life!"
"I haven't either. And I have to admit, I kind of liked it."
"There have been a couple of hiccups."
"But definitely nothing that we couldn't handle."
"I kind of wish that your mom had gotten to be here though. I feel like she missed out."
"I agree, but my Mom is exactly where she needs to be right now."
"That's true. And she'll be here next year."
"Family day is coming up in a few weeks, at the rehab center. Did you want to go with me?"
"Do you think that it's ok for me to travel?"
"I don't see there being any problem, but we'll check with Paris, just in case. You aren't quite half way through the pregnancy yet, and most airlines let you travel up until you hit 6 months. But we'll be flying privately, so technically, we can do whatever we want. Plus, you'll have a doctor with you at all times, so I'm sure everything will be fine. We can even take Paris with us if you want to."
"We'll see what Paris says about it, but getting away for a few days sounds nice. Is Honor going?"
"Unless Paris says otherwise. Honor's pregnancy is slightly high risk, so we definitely have to run the whole thing by Paris before we make any plans. But I'm pretty sure she'll clear you both for travel since I'll be going too."
"How warm do you think it'll be in California?"
"In the dead of winter? Probably in high 70s / low 80s."
"That sounds completely crazy!"
"Crazy, but amazing at the same time." Logan agreed.
"You work tomorrow, right?"
"Yep. 7am."
"That's early."
"It is. But this is what I traded for, so I could have Christmas off."
"I know. I'm not complaining. You're a doctor. You save lives every day. And I am so proud of you! It's just extra quiet around the office without you there cracking jokes, and ordering people around all day."
"Oh come on, I do not order people around all day."
"Oh really?! I specifically recall you ordering your uncle around just last week."
"That was me telling him to shut up at a board meeting. That's not an everyday occurrence."
"Because it was the first time that you've done that?"
"Definitely not the first." Logan chuckled.
"Or the hundredth."
"And I'm sure it won't be the last either."
"Exactly! The office is really quiet without you there yelling at your uncle."
"That idiot shouldn't be on the board of directors anyway. He's only there because my grandfather put him there, and I have yet to figure out a way to get rid of him."
"Does your Dad like him?"
"Hell no! But the jerk at least respects my Dad. Unfortunately he hates me, so I get treated like crap."
"So let's figure out a way to get rid of him then."
"He either needs to die, or sell his shares."
"So let's buy his shares then."
"He won't sell. I've tried several times."
"And those are the only two ways to get rid of him?"
"Yep! Trust me, I've been trying to get rid of the guy for years. Last time I complained to my Dad, I was told that if I wanted him gone, I'd have to buy him out. I tried. I offered the guy twice what his shares were worth."
"And?"
"He laughed in my face, and told me to go to hell."
"How long ago was this?"
"College."
"Logan, that was like ten years ago!"
"And you think he's changed in the last ten years?"
"I think that maybe it's possible."
"I think that you just like to see the best in people."
"I'm pretty sure that's why you conned me into taking on the CEO position, right?"
"If that's how you want to see it."
"Was there another reason? Other than the fact that you didn't want it, even though you are clearly the one doing the job anyway?"
"What are you talking about? I am NOT doing the job of the CEO!"
"Oh really?! Because I'm pretty sure that I haven't been teaching myself for the last couple months."
"I might be teaching you things, but you are the one running the company."
"If that's how you want to see it."
"Rory . . ." Logan sighed.
"Logan, I'm not trying to start a fight with you. I'm just pointing out that the only reason that you made me the CEO is because you don't want the job."
"And because you are super smart, and motivated, and capable, and you know the industry better than anybody I know. And I can trust you to keep the company going, and not run it directly into the ground."
"And?"
"And what?"
"And because you don't want it."
"Of course I don't want it! You said it yourself, I'm a doctor. I'm busy saving lives every day. I don't have time to run HPG."
"Except that you are working 3 days a week in the office with me, and 3 days a week in the hospital."
"Rory . . ."
"Logan . . ."
"What are you trying to say?"
"All I'm saying is that you are doing both jobs right now. Like it or not, you actually are doing the CEO job. You might be helping me learn how to do it, but you are still doing it. I know that you don't like to admit it, because you completely hate HPG, but like it or not, you are still running the company."
"Why do you keep telling me this?"
"Because as your wife, it's my job to give you a reality check whenever you need it. You say that I like to see the best in people. And one of those people is you."
"Your point is?"
"Twelve years ago I thought you were an over privileged, arrogant, self-centered, ass."
"I remember you using some other words."
"Oh, you want me to repeat those? . . . Jerk, ass, arrogant, inconsiderate, mindless, frat boy, lowlife, butt-faced miscreant?"
"And yet you married me."
"Because you changed. You proved me wrong. You showed me that there was more to you than just the selfish spoiled rich kid that you first appeared to be."
"Yeah, but I wanted to change."
"And now you're a doctor. You've changed a ton over the years. Who's to say that your uncle hasn't?"
"You heard the guy last week. His complete disdain and disrespect for me hasn't changed at all over the years."
"Well, maybe it's time that we make him an offer that he can't possibly refuse?"
"And what offer do you suggest we make him?"
"How many shares does he own?"
"Two or three."
"So we look up how much each share is worth right now, and we go from there."
"Feel free to try. That guy makes it his mission in life to make me miserable."
"You said that about your parents."
"And you saw my mother. She's completely drugged up on who knows what. You of all people, know that she's never been a pleasant person."
"You just need to learn to have a little bit more faith in people."
"Some days I wonder how you are always so positive. I know that Lorelai isn't like that. And neither are your Grandparents."
"My Grandpa is. He always sees the best in everyone. It takes a lot to make him see people's true colors sometimes."
"Your Grandpa is a really good person."
"My Grandpa always saw the best in you. Even when I couldn't."
"I'm glad you take after him. It's what helps make you CEO material."
"Other than the fact that I'm your wife and I'll do whatever you tell me to."
"Well, there's that too." Logan laughed.
"You need to get some sleep."
"So do you. It sounds like you have some plans in the works."
"I might."
"Well I'm sure you'll be telling me all about it later on."
"Probably."
"Go to sleep my Evil Genius."
"Evil Genius?"
"You know it's true."
"You make a good partner in crime."
"We've always been a great team."
"Yes we have. Which is why we make an amazing partner CEO."
"You just HAD to throw that in there!"
"You know that it's true."
"I know that I love you."
"I love you too Doctor Huntzberger." Rory smiled as she tilted her head up to kiss her husband. "I'll see you in the morning."