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~~~ Still Quarantined ~~~
I have a lot going on today, but I managed to finish this chapter last night, and my editor just sent it back to me, so here you go.
Thank you everyone who has posted a review for me to read! I absolutely LOVE reading them! I am so glad you guys are loving this story! Your kind words mean a lot to me. Thank you so much!
Now, I get to finish getting ready, and then go drive 4 hours. Yahoo! :-/
Friday, February 3, 2017
Huntzberger Home
6am
"Hey Baby, it's your birthday." Rory said softly, rubbing Logan's chest to wake him up after turning their alarm off.
"I don't wanna. Too tired." Logan groaned, trying to pull the blankets up over his shoulder.
"We've got a busy day today."
"Sleep."
"Come on birthday boy. It's time to get up."
"I don't wanna. I should be allowed to sleep in on my birthday."
"If you get up right now, we can share a shower. But if you don't, I'll just have to go shower by myself, and then you'll be on your own getting ready."
"You play dirty."
"We need to get up and get moving before the entire family decides to burst in here for an impromptu birthday party."
"They wouldn't do that."
"You do realize that you're talking about Lorelai Gilmore, right? Because Lorelai Gilmore ALWAYS does that! Every year on my birthday, she wakes me up at 4:03 in the morning, when it's still pitch black outside, just so she can tell me the story of my birth. You don't want to tempt fate do you?"
"I was born in the middle of the afternoon."
"Don't tempt fate. I promise you that she'll be bursting in here in the next 20-30 minutes, and if you aren't showered and dressed, then she's going to be seeing your naked butt."
"You people are mean." Logan said finally opening his eyes, and attempting to glare at his wife.
"Happy birthday Baby. I love you." Rory smiled, placing a gentle kiss on his lips. "Come take a shower with me so we can get dressed before that door bursts open."
"It can't burst open if I lock it."
"Please, have you met my mother?!"
"She would really pick the lock?"
"You think she wouldn't? Lorelai is the birthday queen. There is no keeping her from celebrating anything. There is tons of hoopla in a Gilmore birthday, remember?"
"Why did we agree to do the opening today? Why couldn't I just take the day off to sleep? Maybe fly somewhere luxurious for the weekend, so we can sleep and relax."
"Because the timing worked out with construction, and it allows you to get the business running smoothly, and still get your annual required continuing education seminars in before the baby is born."
"It's early!"
"The sooner you come shower with me, the sooner you get coffee."
"Next year I get to sleep on my birthday."
"You can sleep tomorrow. Come on, get up. I'm going to go get the water turned on, so it gets nice and warm." Rory said giving Logan one more kiss, then climbing out of bed and heading to their bathroom to turn the shower on.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * An Hour Later * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Logan
Happy birthday to you
Everyone sang as Rory and Logan entered the kitchen to find breakfast and coffee set out for them.
"Thank guys!" Logan smiled as he took a seat on a bar stool next to the kitchen island where a plate of food was waiting for him, along with several presents.
"We were going to bring all of this upstairs, and surprise you with breakfast in bed, but you were already in the shower when we tried." Lorelai told him.
"I told you so!" Rory said taking a seat on the stool next to him.
"I don't normally get up this early unless I absolutely have to."
"Open your presents!" Honor instructed him
"I can open them later."
"I do believe the woman gave you an order." Josh spoke up as Lorelai handed out plates of food to the rest of the family.
"Everyone is so demanding this morning." Logan chuckled as he took a bite of food, then reached for a present. "This better not explode in my face."
"Crap, I left the explosive present in my garage!" Honor laughed.
"Wow, business cards. Thank you Honor! That was very sweet of you."
"You are very welcome. The blue box is from Mom and Dad."
"Alright." Logan said as he reached for the next gift, and ripped it open to find new shoes, a stethoscope, lab coat with his name and "Huntzberger Clinic" embroidered on it, and a new tie that said 'world's greatest doctor'. "Thanks Dad! Tell Mom I said thank you as well."
"Your mother is actually on the phone and wants to talk to you." Mitchum said handing his phone over.
"Good morning sweetheart! Happy birthday!"
"Thank you! Thank you for the presents, I love them. It's awfully early there. What are you doing up already?" Logan asked.
"I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday, and tell you that I am so proud of you, and that I love you. You have a wonderful day today, ok?"
"Thank you Mom. I will. I love you too. Are you doing ok?"
"I'm doing wonderful, Sweetie. I know that you have a big day today, so I'll let you go. I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday before things start to get crazy."
"Thanks Mom. I appreciate it."
"Have a good day Honey. I'm excited to watch your press conference this morning."
"Thanks Mom. Here's Dad again." Logan said as he handed the phone back to his father.
"Isn't it 4am in California?" Rory asked.
"Yes it is." Logan confirmed.
"I would kill whoever woke me up at that hour. Someone had better be dead for you to be calling me that early."
"I agree!" Honor chuckled. "Mom just really wanted to say Happy Birthday before you headed in this morning."
"I'm surprised she even remembered."
"Everything is different now, remember?"
"I know, but it's still kind of weird for me. After 34 years, it's odd to actually have a good relationship."
"You guys don't have to be as close as Rory and Lorelai are. But you do need to give her a chance."
"I'm doing my best." Logan told her. "Do I have to open the rest of these presents right now, or can they wait for later on?"
"Those can wait." Lorelai told him. "Your Mom just wanted you to have your stuff to wear this morning."
"I'm not wearing that tie today. I like it, but it's not exactly press conference professional."
"That tie was kind of a joke." Honor pointed out. "Mom and I were joking about getting you something cheesy like that a few weeks ago. We didn't expect you to ever wear it. It's not exactly your style."
"Not at all. I'm sure I'll have plenty of cheesy stuff like that to wear once Ayribella starts with the gift giving, so it'll probably eventually get worn."
"That's true. You'll have to wear all of those cheesy Daddy presents."
"Don't even think for a single second, that you are exempt from that. Because I have 34 years of big sister payback to inflict on you through your child." Logan told her.
"You just need to remember that you love me, and that what goes around, comes around. I can play that game too. In fact, I'm a lot better at it than you are."
"Whatever you say!" Logan laughed. "Hey Ace, we need to get going. Frank should be here any minute. It's almost 7:30."
"I'm ready when you are." Rory told him.
"I'll steam your new doctor coat, and bring it to you when I come down." Honor told him.
"Thank you! Hey guys! Anyone who is coming with Rory and I this morning, Frank will be here any minute! Security will be posted outside both this house and Honor's for the next several days, as well as outside the gate. If you need an escort getting into the office, call me! I have no idea how crazy things are going to be, but we need to be prepared for a massive storm. And I'm sure that I don't need to remind anyone of this, but please, no talking to the press. No baby information, and if they ask for a due date, the answer is 'early summer'. I don't need them barricading the hospital trying to get information."
"I'll text the rest of the family." Lorelai offered.
"Thanks Lorelai. Rory, will you hand me those new shoes?"
"Here you go. They're so shiny!"
"These have always been my favorites. Mom and Honor have been buying them for me since I was a teenager." Logan said as he switched out the shoes he was wearing for the new ones. "Ok, how do I look?"
"Way too good to be going to work. If we didn't have such an important day I might be tempted to drag you back upstairs."
"Now that I can definitely get behind!" He said pulling Rory into his arms, and kissing her passionately as the doorbell rang.
"It's Frank!" Josh called from the other room.
"Hey Frank, come on in! Are you hungry?" Honor called as she headed toward the door.
"How do I look?" Rory asked as Logan let go of her.
"That blue dress looks amazing on you." Lorelai told her.
"You look incredible Ace!"
"I don't look too fat and grungy?"
"Hell no! You look gorgeous."
"Good morning everyone!" Frank said as he entered the kitchen.
"Hey Frank!" Lorelai greeted. "Are you hungry? We have plenty!"
"I can make you a plate." Luke offered.
"This breakfast is amazing! Make him a plate to go." Logan told him.
"You guys sure have a full house today." Frank commented.
"It's Logan's birthday, and we're opening his new medical clinic this morning. You are welcome to join us for the festivities." Rory said giving Frank a quick hug.
"You look beautiful today. Did I know that you are pregnant?"
"Thank you Frank, you are so sweet! I don't remember if we mentioned it to you or not." Rory told him. "Sorry, we've kept it pretty quiet, and we haven't seen you in a while."
"Don't be sorry, I completely understand.
"I'm guessing you are due sometime this summer?"
"May 23rd. With a little girl."
"Congratulations! You two will be wonderful parents! What is the answer you are telling people in case I'm asked?"
"We are only telling them early summer. No details at all."
"Gotcha. You know my mouth is sealed."
"That's why we keep you around." Logan smiled. "Hey guys, whoever is going with us, let's go!"
"Luke and I are going to ride over with Sookie. She's finishing up in Honor's kitchen." Lorelai said as she helped Rory slip her coat on. "Honey, don't forget your heels."
"They're in my big purse. Logan, will you grab my computer bag please?"
"I've got it. Alright, we're leaving! Press conference starts at 11. I expect everyone to be there by 10:30 at the absolute latest!" Logan shouted over all the other voices in the house.
"Miss Honor, I'll pick you all up 9:30" Frank told her. "Will you be here, or across the street?"
"Probably across the street. I'll text you if we aren't."
"Alright, I'll see the rest of you very soon."
"Thanks Frank!" Mitchum said as he ate his breakfast with the rest of the family.
"Here's your plate Frank."
"Thank you Miss Lorelai." Frank smiled, then followed Rory and Logan out of the house to drive them to the office.
"Are you sure I look ok? This dress isn't too tight?" Rory asked as she climbed into the back of the limo with Logan, buckling her seat belt, and snuggling up next to him.
"You look absolutely incredible! It's going to be hard to keep my hands off of you today."
"It's hard for you to keep your hands to yourself every day."
"Hey, it's not my fault you look sexy as hell." he said kissing the side of her head as she laid it on his shoulder.
"You know that you can tell me if I look horrid, you know."
"Trust me, I would. But you need to trust me when I tell you that I've never seen you look horrid a single day since I've known you."
"Even when I was covered in blood, fresh out of the ambulance?"
"Not even then. You looked beautiful, just covered in blood."
"More or less beautiful than today?"
"Don't ask stupid questions. You look more beautiful every day."
"Are you sure? Because I'm feeling kind of fat lately."
"Ace, come on. If we weren't on our way to work right now, I'd have Frank take us for a long drive to absolutely nowhere, and I would show you just how amazing I think you look, while he does it. Don't you ever say that you look fat, because you absolutely don't. You are tiny. You definitely have a baby bump, but otherwise you are just as petite as you've always been."
"I kind of like having Frank to drive us around. We don't get much time to just be us lately."
"We can use Frank's services as much as you want to. But I do agree, it's nice being able to just be together without having to worry about anything."
"It's been a really busy few weeks."
"Yes it has . . . Why don't we go away next weekend. We can go somewhere quiet, just the two of us."
"Where do you want to go?"
"It doesn't matter. Somewhere away from here."
"I'll check the calendar."
"I'm having Doyle clear the calendar. Anything non-life threatening can be rescheduled."
"Logan, don't be silly."
"I'm being serious. You and I are going to go away next weekend. Just the two of us. No excuses. It hasn't been just us in months. I miss having you all to myself."
"We've been really busy."
"Well next weekend is just us. No excuses."
"Where do you want to go?"
"I have no idea, but I'm going to figure it out."
"Next weekend is Valentine's weekend."
"Even better! I get a romantic Valentines get away with the only valentine I will ever need."
"That actually sounds really nice." Rory said lifting her head to look up at her husband.
"I love you Ace."
"I love you too." Rory smiled as Logan pressed a kiss to her lips.
"You know, if we weren't already married, I would marry you right now, without even thinking about it."
"We've been married for 4 months."
"It should have been more."
"You walked away."
"And I will regret that for the rest of my life."
"We're together now though. That's all that really matters, right?"
"And I will never not be grateful for the day that you walked back into my life."
"You looked so hot that day, sitting in the corner of the coffee shop, sipping your drink."
"So you did see me then."
"Just your body. I couldn't see your face. Had I been paying more attention and actually gotten a good look, I might have realized that it was you, and ran the other way before you saw me."
"You would have run the other way?"
"I was still really hurting. Every time I saw someone who looked even a little bit like you, I would take off in the opposite direction. I had given up on ever falling in love again. If I couldn't have you, I didn't want anyone."
"It's a good thing that I have enough guts for the both of us then. Because I never wanted anyone else either. The second I saw you in that coffee shop, I was ready to beg you to come back to me."
"You had an advantage over me though. You knew exactly where to find me the entire time."
"But I had promised Paris that I would leave you alone, and not go all crazy stalker love sick puppy on you."
"Did you ever see me before that day?"
"I knew that you were at Paris' medical school graduation."
"You were there?"
"I was."
"Why didn't you come say hi?"
"I promised Paris that I wouldn't overwhelm you. It was her day. I didn't want to detract from that."
"Were you at Paris and Doyle's wedding?"
"No. I seriously considered going though. I was supposed to be there, but I knew it would be too hard for both of us, and again, it was Paris' day. It wouldn't have been right to mess things up for either of you. I went to Vegas with Collin and Finn, and got really drunk."
"Logan, I am so sorry!"
"Don't be sorry. It was for the best."
"I wish you had been at the wedding. I was really missing you that day. I kept picturing it being us getting married."
"That is exactly why I stayed away. I couldn't face reality."
"You and I are really, truly pathetic!"
"Yes we are." Logan chuckled. "Way more so than anyone ever realized."
"I guess it's a really good thing that we work in the same building."
"We would see a lot less of each other if we didn't."
"Can you imagine what that would be like?"
"We've been together every second we could since you came into the hospital that day."
"Things would be really different if your dad hadn't had that first heart attack."
"You would still be pregnant though."
"That's true . . ."
"I can't believe you got pregnant that first night."
"Fate wanted us together. If it hadn't been for that heart attack, things would be really different right now."
"We would still be together though. I was already planning to eventually ask you to marry me again."
"But we may not have gotten married so soon."
"Probably not."
"Do you ever regret it?"
"Regret what?"
"Getting married so quickly."
"I could never regret that. I actually asked your mom at the hospital that day, if it would be ok with her, if I were to ask you again."
"You did?"
"I wasn't about to let you walk out of my life again."
~ * ~ * ~ * FLASH BACK * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"I remember everything. Rory is pretty hard to forget."
"So let me ask you this . . . I know it's none of my business, but what happened back at Yale?"
Taking a step backwards, Logan leaned up against the counter, looked down at the floor and sighed.
"You said you loved my daughter. You asked Rory to marry you. But then when she wasn't ready, you walked away. I didn't expect that when you and I talked."
Logan slowly took a deep breath before raising his head to meet Lorelai's eyes.
"I didn't expect that either." he said softly. "I screwed up. I was hurt. I thought we were there. I thought we wanted the same things. I never expected her to say no."
"And now it's been over 8 years, and you guys haven't had any contact."
"I know . . . I reached for the phone so many times, but one day became two, which became a week, then a month. Then several months. And I kept chickening out. I kept telling myself that if Rory loved me as much as I loved her, she would call. Somehow I just justified everything in my head. I was stupid and stubborn, and I just couldn't come right out and admit that I was wrong."
"Did you know that Rory did the exact same thing? She kept telling me that it had been so long that she was sure that you had forgotten all about her. Any time my parents or anyone mentioned your name, Rory just tuned them out. She refused to hear anything about you. Rory said that if you wanted her to know, you would reach out."
"Paris told me that if I ever asked her to be the go between, she would castrate me."
"I wouldn't put that past her either." Lorelai said with a soft chuckle. "So what does this all mean now? Its been 8 1/2 years."
"Honestly?" Logan started, but then paused for a moment, trying to get his thoughts straight. "That is all up to Rory."
"Judging by your face, you still have feelings for her."
"There's never been anyone else . . . And yes, I know how incredibly insane that sounds."
"Well I'm not going to be your go between either. It's no secret that I didn't like you in the past. But everything has changed now. Neither one of you are the babies that you used to be. You are both grown up now, with fancy careers. Especially you! Never in a million years did I ever expect you to go to medical school. But you did. And now you're here, standing in this hospital room, taking amazing care of my baby girl."
"I ran into her at the coffee shop this morning. Did she tell you?"
"Not yet. But I'm sure she will later. She's been thru a lot today."
"I was just in the right place, at the right time."
"You have a tendency to do that." Lorelai told him with a gentle smile.
"I was just sitting there drinking my coffee before work, scrolling through my e-mail, as if I have some kind of exciting life or something. Next thing I know, this beautiful woman walks in with some other lady. I glanced up when the door opened, and I saw this gorgeous brunette, but I couldn't see her face very well. I wasn't even paying attention to her, until I heard her voice. I didn't even believe it at first. I kept telling myself that there was no way Rory was there, and that I was just being stupid and imagining it. But I know her voice so well, and I had to do something. So as they were leaving, I decided to say hi. I guess I've been lucky."
"So what now then?"
"This morning I asked Rory to meet me for dinner sometime."
"That's a good start."
"And I was thinking that if it all goes well, maybe I can convince her to give me another chance."
"Well, judging by today, I'd say that she definitely owes you dinner."
"So you're ok with us trying again?"
"If it's what Rory wants, then I am definitely ok with it."
"Alright." Logan answered with a smile of his own. "Let me ask you one more thing . . . It's already been over ten years . . . If things go my way, can I start calling you mom?"
"I think you might have to."
END OF FLASHBACK
"I can't believe you knew that you wanted to marry me that day."
"I knew ten years before that day."
"When did you first know?"
"That I wanted to marry you?"
"Yeah."
"That day in the hospital. When I woke up from the coma, and you were there with me. I was so angry and terrified of losing you when I jumped off that cliff. I don't even know why I did it. I was so upset, and scared, and I was just being stupid. All I could think about was how upset you were with me, and how it was all entirely my fault. I loved you so much, but I was completely terrified of losing you again. You were so mad at me back then, and I felt terrible and just wanted to numb the pain."
"I shouldn't have let you go on that trip. I was just mad, and I couldn't get past it. I just couldn't understand how you could possibly say that you loved me, but be with those other girls. It took me going to Philadelphia a couple days after you left, and Jess kissing me, for me to finally get it. I felt terrible for letting you walk out that door. I should have begged you to stay."
"I kind of wish you had. But at the same time, I was upset too."
"You could have died that day."
"Thank goodness I didn't."
"I would have blamed myself."
"I wouldn't have wanted you to. I would have wanted you to be happy. That's all that I've ever wanted."
"I wouldn't have been happy without you though. I never have been."
"Mr. Huntzberger," Frank's voice broke through their conversation. "Would you like me to take you to the garage, or the front door."
"The garage is perfect." Logan answered, without breaking eye contact with his wife.
"We're about two minutes out."
"Thank you Frank . . . Can we pick this up later?"
"There's nothing to pick up. None of this matters anymore. We're together now. And we have an absolutely amazing life."
"Yes we do." Logan agreed gently stroaking his thumb over Rory's cheek. "I love you. More than anything in this world."
"I love you to too. Happy birthday Baby." Rory smiled as Logan leaned down to kiss her. "Oh crap! I forgot something!" Rory said, suddenly pulling away, and reaching for her purse.
"What did you forget?"
"My ring."
"What ring? You're wearing your engagement ring and you wedding band. What other ring matters?"
"I was going to wear your family ring today."
"The Huntzberger ring?"
"Yeah. It was your grandmother's. I always wear it for big events, and I forgot to grab it."
"Where is it?"
"In the safe."
"Call your mom. I'll text her the code."
"I'm so sorry Logan."
"It's not a big deal. Don't even worry about it. Someone should probably have the code other than us anyway."
"I figured Honor had it."
"Collin has it. It's in a file with all of my other legal paperwork. But he probably doesn't realize that he has it." Logan said as he reached inside his suit jacket to get his phone.
"Hey Mom? I need a favor." Rory said when Lorelai answered the phone. "Are you still at my house? Good, I need you to go upstairs to my bedroom, and get my ring out of the safe . . . The Huntzberger family ring. It's in a small red jewelry box in the safe . . . You didn't know that we have a safe? . . . No, I'm not sure how you didn't know. Ok, you know that picture that you said you like in my bedroom? Open it up . . . Yes, the picture opens. Run your finger along with bottom back ledge of the frame, and you'll hit the button. No, the picture won't come off the wall at all. Even if you tried to pull it, it's on there. Just slip your finger along the bottom of the frame right on the back. Like put your finger under the frame so you it goes under the back of it. There is a button that you won't even realize you hit until the picture opens. Just run your finger along that bottom back edge. Yes, right toward the left edge. The frame will open up when you trigger the button . . . Yeah. Logan is texting you the code right now, so make sure you delete the text after you get the ring . . . Yes . . . Yep, just bring it with you. I'll get it from you when you get here . . . Thanks Mom, you're the best! I love you too. See you soon." Rory said, then ended the call.
"Your mom didn't know that we have a safe?"
"I guess we never told her."
"That's kind of funny." Logan said as the door to his right opened.
"Are you two ready?" Frank asked holding his hand out to help Logan out of the car.
"Thank you so much Frank."
"It's my pleasure Mr. Huntzberger."
"You ready Babe?" Logan asked as he stepped out of the car, then held his hand out for Rory.
"I am. Thank you so much Frank. We'll see you a little bit later. You should definitely join us for the festivities today. There is going to be a ton of amazing food!"
"Thank you Mrs. Huntzberger. I'll see what I can do. You two have a wonderful day. Happy birthday Logan."
"Thanks Frank." Logan said as he reached into the car for Rory's computer bag, then took her hand, and led her into the building. "It's crazy, but I feel like the luckiest guy in the world right now. Just like the first time I brought you here."