Do not own Gilmore Girls.
"Mom?" Rory calls out as she opens the front door of her childhood home.
"In here." Lorelai calls from the kitchen, "coffee?"
"Absolutely." Rory walks in and finds her mother at the coffeemaker, pulling down a mug for her. "How are the wedding plans coming along? I have a couple of days before Logan joins me so we can have mother-daughter time."
Lorelai looks pleased with the news, "Oh, I am counting myself lucky in that case. Where is Logan?"
"Hartford, staying with Honor. He wants to bond with Jason more. Plus, a few meetings in Hartford and New York City. They are increasing their online news presence. He might also be cooking up some plans for another venture he is looking into, but he is enjoying growing this platform right now. Enough about Logan, let's talk cake."
"Weston's. Confirm Praline Crunch. Could even sample a few other flavors, just to be certain."
"Show me the fork," Rory quips, grabbing her purse and following her mother out the door. Once outside, Rory notices the chuppah, "Are you getting married under the Chuppah?"
Lorelai runs her fingers down the nearest pole, "Yes, and Mom is getting the flowers to decorate it."
"Have you already gone flower shopping? What is still on the list to do? Yeah, don't worry, I know the bachelorette party." Lorelai points at the jeep, but Rory shakes her head no, "Let's walk."
"OK, kid. So, the flowers and dress are done – using the one I got before and adding a cape for the ceremony. Reception is planned."
"Dragonfly?"
"Dragonfly. I need a dress for you and Sookie. She didn't feel comfortable picking one out before the arrival of Victoria."
"Understandable. Do you know the dress color? Are we matching colors only or color and style?"
"Color only. Blue."
"My favorite." Rory hadn't stopped smiling. It felt so good to be here with her Mom. "Sounds like the important stuff is done. What do you want to do for your party?"
"We already had one with Max; I don't need another one." Lorelai looked at her daughter for a reaction.
"Well, then we will just call the Gilmore Christmas party your bachelorette party and be done with it." Rory wipes her hands together in the 'well that was easy, I'm finished with it all' while grinning, anticipating the response.
"Oh, my mother thinks her party is Omega Theta Pi."
"We will turn it into Delta Tau Chi."
"Emily will be thrilled." Lorelai's voice was excited.
In a cheery voice, "You are very welcome, Mom. Animal House for you." She pulled open the door of Weston's.
As Lorelai stepped in, she saw the Praline Crunch cake waiting for her on the counter, "there it is. Come to Mommy." Her hands were grabbing toward the cake.
Rory walked up and ordered two coffees, and Lorelai looked at her mouth open, "but I want fancy coffee."
Rory looked at her like she was crazy, "But you can't taste the praline, and we must taste the praline. And what if we decide we need to taste other cakes, coffee enhances."
Lorelai picked up the cake and grinned, "True, true, coffee enhances." The two approached an open table and sat down with forks, coffee, and cake. "Now tell Mommy a story."
Popping a piece of cake into her mouth, Rory took a moment to chew and think. She had already told her Mom about the interview with Oprah, and she realized that she hadn't told her mother about the time she spent on the trail while Oprah was endorsing Obama. "I haven't told you about my trip with Oprah and Obama. Want the scoop?"
"Absolutely!"
The two women emerge from Westons, "I am happy we walked," Rory says to her mother, "now we can make room for one of Luke's cheeseburgers." Linking arms, they walked over to Luke's, still discussing Rory's experience on the trail. Rory turned, "Oh, Mom, I saw Lane go into the music store. I'm going to say hello and find a time that we can get together in the next few days. Be right back."
"Sounds good to me; it gives me time with my fiancé." Lorelai peeled off, walking into Luke's while Rory went to the music store.
"Hi, Sophie,"
"Hey, Rory, right?"
"yes, I'm surprised you remembered."
"Lane mentions you often."
"Oh, right."
"So, what can I do for you? Don't remember you being the one with a thing for drums."
"That is right. I was wondering if my lawyer had contacted you about buying the music store."
"Yes, he did. We signed the paperwork today. The offer was more than I was expecting. Thank you. Now we just need to ensure the appraiser agrees you aren't spending too much, especially without competitive bids."
"Well, the offer does include purchasing all of the contents. So, put together your inventory receipts so we can give you a fair offer. I also wanted to check as to when you want to close and then also transfer the store."
"I will need to sell my house here too, so is it okay for me to live here until I find a buyer for that."
Rory cocked her head and smiled, "Where are you intending to move?"
"I'd like to move back to New York and play again. I miss the clubs, and with the sale of the store, I can afford to go back to my first love, singing."
"Let me know when you want to move, and can you show me your house?"
"Seriously?"
"Seriously. My lawyer and accountant thought it was a good idea for me to buy a few properties here, and well, you know, I make a fair offer. I could make your place an extension of my mom's inn or a place to rent. Which do you think would be better?"
"It is a 3 bedroom with an office or music room, I think you would be much better off renting it. There are few families who would benefit from a house that size without the expense of upkeep. It is also just behind the music store—a great spot for a music store owner to live. Come on I will show you." Sophie put the "be right back" sign in the door and walked Rory to the back so she could tour the house.
Rory was walking back to Luke's, pleased she had two houses and the music store lined up. She put her phone back into her pocket after telling her Grandfather the address for Sophie's house and being satisfied that he would follow up on getting it assessed to make an offer. There is a feeling of accomplishment and a sense of warmth that she can help Lane and Zack move into a house she will set up as a rent-to-own and give them the music store to run. From what Sophie has shown her, only one can afford to work there, but hopefully, over time, they will build enough of a client base to support them. Now that everything is lined up, she will tell Logan when he arrives. It still feels strange not to tell her mother, but she is so happy with the upcoming wedding. Rory realizes she is feeling the same apprehension about telling her mother as Lorelai feels about telling her Grandma. The two women are more alike than they want to admit. Rory tucks that little nugget away and knows she has to talk with someone about not carrying this judgmental attitude forward. She opens the door to the diner.
"Hey, Luke"
"Rory!" Luke comes out from behind the counter and hugs her.
Lorelai swats him, "Hey, I just got a lean-over the kiss; she gets an around-the-counter hug."
Luke rolls his eyes, "I don't see her every day."
"Still, I deserve around-the-counter hugs." She pouts.
"Geez," Luke wraps his arm around her shoulder, but Lorelai leaps into his arms, knocking them back into the wall. Luke puts her down and looks awkward, "Lorelai, consider that your last ever around-the-counter hug." He straightens his ball cap and walks back to the counter.
Babette pipes up, "Ah, sugar, that is true love. Knock you down, kind of love. Morrie and me, we have that kind of love."
Luke looks at Lorelai and gestures at Babette, "See what you started; now we have to listen to this." He points to the empty table, "Go sit down; I'll bring the cheeseburgers." Lorelai walks toward the table and turns back, but Luke beats her to it, "and coffee. I know."
"Ah, he loves me."
"Actually, I think he is just using you to get to me." Rory teased.
"Geez, will you two stop it." Luke puts down the cheeseburgers, and Lorelai kisses him again, but he doesn't pull back; he clearly enjoys having his Gilmore Girls there.
"When does Logan get here?" Lorelai asked on the morning of the Gilmore Christmas party.
"He should be here in about an hour. Oh, and Frank will be taking us to the Christmas party so we can drink without worrying. Want to ride with us?"
"Frank?"
"Yeah, limo boy's driver."
"He has the same driver still?"
"He does."
"I'm surprised."
"He isn't Grandma."
Lorelai looked sheepish, "I didn't say he was."
"You implied it when you said you were surprised."
"Did Frank go with him to"
Rory interrupted, "Yes, he is in California with him."
"Really? He moved his driver across the country?"
"Logan gave him the option. Frank decided to move. It worked out well. His wife prefers California, and their son loves it there."
"Logan pays enough for a driver to live in California?"
"He does. Underestimating my fiancé once again, huh, Mom?" Rory kept her voice teasing, but it still had a firmness that said don't push it.
"I guess we should have Frank drive us."
"I'll let Logan know so he can arrange for the limo instead of the town car."
Lorelai went to say something. Rory seemed very comfortable with the limo versus the town car, but they had been having a good time. The wedding was only a few days away. Christmas day is coming up with Luke's family. She thought better of it and decided she could talk to Rory about her comfort with the money later. After all, Rory was living on the bus and not staying in 5-star hotels on the road. She also realized that the limo meant she and Luke could have a drink before showing up to her parents, and that sounded good.
Rory heard the knock on the door and practically tripped over herself, running to let Logan in, "Hi," their lips met, and the cold air flooded the house while they stood in a hot embrace.
"Um, cold, hello, cold!" Lorelai inched her way behind the couple, moved Logan's bags inside, and got the door closed.
"Hello Lorelai," Logan handed her flowers, "thank you for hosting."
"Hello." Lorelai stepped back, glad she had gotten them a room at the Dragonfly, "and you aren't staying here."
"Mom, what do you mean he isn't staying here."
"The you is plural; neither one of you is staying here. I have the key to the bungalow at the Dragonfly." She held the key out for one of them to take. "You can change here and put your bags in the back of the car. After the party, head to the Inn. You can return in the morning." She grinned at them. "Merry Christmas!" she put on her coat and walked out the door as she closed it, "I'll see you in about two hours. Enough time?"
"Yes," Rory smiled and closed the door, wrapping her arms around Logan and pulling him toward her bedroom.
An hour later, Logan is pacing in Lorelai's living room; he is confused as to why Rory waited to tell him about purchasing the music store and two houses in Stars Hollow. "Rory, Ace, I don't understand. Why didn't you talk to me about the investments in advance? I could have provided guidance. I know all about this stuff."
Rory watches him as he turns and looks at her; she sits on the sofa with her feet tucked under her, "Logan, I needed to do this on my own. I knew you would support my decisions, but sometimes you take over."
Logan was not expecting that. "What do you mean take over?"
"You are used to having money. Making decisions about spending it. You bought our house. You buy airline tickets or arrange for transportation. The limo tonight. There was no doubt in my mind that you could make this happen. The problem is that I wouldn't learn the process. I want us to be equal partners in this relationship. I need to learn how to handle my money. I did tell you about my decision. I need to get used to being in this position. It is a lot."
Logan nods in understanding. He realizes she didn't actually keep anything from him but just did what he does - made a decision, followed through, and then told him. "I, um, I just realized something." Rory cocked her head at him, "I don't like being left out of the decision-making process."
Rory smirked, "you don't?" she stood up and walked over to him.
"Did you intend to give me a taste of my own medicine?" he asked, pulling her into him.
"Actually, no, but bonus!" she wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling as she reached to kiss him. "You do realize that both of us will need to continue making decisions without consulting each other, right?"
Logan smirked and nodded, planting another kiss on her lips. He said, "However, I believe that we should make a concerted effort to include each other in most decisions from this point forward."
"I'll take that under advisement, Huntzberger." Logan pulled back a little like he was still processing something, "Is there more?" she asked.
"Rory, I get that I should not have decided on the house without you. That us, living in California is hard on you with this job." Rory nodded in agreement. He continued, "Did you decide to buy the houses in Stars Hollow because?" Logan hesitated and turned his back. Rory looked like she was patiently waiting for him to assemble his thoughts, but inside, she suddenly realized how he could see her purchases as a fallback. A place to return to if they didn't work out.
"Logan, I am not planning to come back here."
"Ace, I know you aren't planning on it. Could it be a subconscious decision? You know, to have a safety net? Is this your way of telling me that what we have in California isn't working?" Logan was worried.
"Hey, the subconscious is not conscious, hence the prefix sub. I bought the places more out of a sense of guilt."
He turned and looked at her; his eyes were scrunched up, face contorted. Truly not understanding "guilt?"
"Logan, I did nothing to earn this money. It doesn't feel right that I happened to have grandparents with a lot of money. While friends like Lane and Zack, they struggle. If I can make their lives easier? Give them a chance to live their childhood dreams. Isn't that the right thing to do? Plus, Taylor owns so much of the town. He gauges people on rents. I thought that if I owned a place, then I could rent it out for less. Give people, Lane, a chance to save for the future. Living in Connecticut is expensive." Searching his face for understanding, Logan's features softened.
"Lane and Zack," he replied
"Lane and Zack," she confirmed.
"Not Rory" his eyes searching hers.
"Rory and Logan, but never just Rory. Consciously or subconsciously." She ran her hands up his arms. Then tugged on his sleeve to lead him back to her bedroom. "Are you in agreement with this decision?" Logan provided his patented smirk in response.
Sitting in the back of the Limo, Luke and Logan have loosened their ties and Luke is finishing a beer, "why didn't we ever do this before?"
"What?" Lorelai asked.
"Take a limo and drink before going to your parents." He replied.
"Because I didn't realize how much better it would make the whole going to my parents thing." Replied Lorelai, who had her feet in his lap and was finishing a glass of wine. "I do believe I ate all of the apple turnovers." She giggled.
Logan had his arm wrapped around Rory, "enjoy yourself?"
"I did."
"Going to tell your mother?"
"Tell your mother what?" Lorelai jumped in.
"Getting drunk before going to your parents was my idea," Logan said while Rory looked at him with reproach.
"Hmm, seems like limo boy might have been talking about something else." Lorelai rolled her eyes at Rory but had enough to drink that she really wasn't up to the interrogation. A good night at her parent's Christmas party was something to relish.
"Party?" Logan raised his eyebrow with a 'what do you think I was talking about' look.
"Party?" Rory repeated
"Bachelor, bachelorette?"
"Oh, you can tell them." She snuggled into his chest.
"Rory told me tonight was supposed to be Delta Tau Chi, but it was an Omega Theta Pi. So, we figured we could do a Lambda Epsilon Omega on the 26th. If you are okay with that. Just need to know your rehearsal dinner plans."
Luke looked at Logan, "What is a Lambda Epsilon Omega?"
"It is just going Old School. Who do you want at your bachelor party?"
"No one, I don't want one," Luke responded.
Lorelai's eyebrows danced, "I'll get you the list."
"Geez."