Chapter 15

After breaking up a shoving match between Tori and Gabby, Paris and the kids left. Tori was told she would not be spending the night with Lele. This caused Tori and Lele to pout. She promised she would take her to the festival tomorrow.

Rory was putting Tori to bed. Paris had already left with her two. Finn helped her get them in the car before he left. Lane and Jennifer were straightening up. Chris and Logan were in a deep conversation about College football. Luke and Zack were talking music, Gigi and Matthew left earlier to get back to Yale. It was Friday night after all. They were too cool to stick around the adults for too long.

Lorelai walked over to Chris and Logan. "So," Lorelia interrupted. Both Chris and Logan turned to look at her as she sat down. "How's it going?" She asked.

Her and Chris got along. They called a truce when Tori was born, not that they couldn't be in the same room before Tori was born, but after they talked, the awkwardness was not there. Lorelia even liked Jennifer. Chris and Luke got along after Luke realized Chris would always be in Lorelia's life because they were parents of Rory and grandparents of Tori. This was made evident after he went to court to get custody of April.

Both Chris and Logan nodded their heads. It was silent and awkward for a bit. Seemed longer. Lorelai decides to jump right in. she didn't know how long she would have before Rory returned from upstairs.

"Chris," She began, "Can I speak to Logan privately?"

Chris studied her, then said. "No, Lor" Lorelai and Logan both looked confused. Before her confusion turned into anger, he continued. "You want to talk to Logan about our daughter and or granddaughter, so I think I should be here."

"Chris," Lorelia began. "I have some stock I was thinking of trading. I want Logan's opinion, He's a businessman."

Chris was out right laughing, enough to get the attention of the rest of the room. "I believe you just about as far as I can throw you." Lorelai shrugged.

Chris didn't move. "Lorelia," Logan said. "Go ahead. "I am sure you have questions, or opinions. I can handle it. Chris you too, I'm sure you have questions also. I don't blame you. If I had a daughter or granddaughter and an old flame came back in the picture, I would want to make sure of his intentions"

"Yes," Chris said. "I am conscious, but I figured when you or Rory wanted me to know, you would tell me. Unlike someone else who is noisy." Chris looked at Lorelai.

"I'm not being nosey," She defined herself "I just want to protect Rory and Tori. Logan it is not just you and Rory. A five year old child is involved. I don't want to see you and Tori get close just to have you move back to London or Asia or somewhere else and her heart be broken."

"Protect them?" Chirs said, staring at Lorelai. He then turned to Logan. "Have you become an ax murderer since you moved back to the States? Or was it when your divorce was final. That can be a hairy time." He was trying to use humor to deflect the questions. He trusted Rory to make the right decision concerning Tori and herself.

"No," Logan said. "Not an ax murder, I prefer a sword." He never smiled nor broke the stare he had on Lorelai.

"Hey," Rory said. They had not seen her come down the stairs from putting Tori to bed. "What's going on here?"

Lorelai wouldn't look at her, but when she turned to look at Chris, Logan Said. "We were discussing ax verses swords"

Chris couldn't hold his laughter any more. "It's time for us to be leaving," Lorelai said. She turned to walk toward Luke and Zach, then turned back around. "Logan, do you need a ride? We would be more than happy to take you to your apartment, no need to call a car service."

"Thanks," Logan said, "But I drove."

Rory watched the interaction between the two. She just shook her head. She knew it wouldn't do any good to talk to Lorelai. Logan could handle her just fine.

After that everyone left, but Logan. "Hey," He said as she came back from the front, saying goodbye to her dad and Jennifer. "I'll get out of your hair in a minute. I just want to go look at her. I know she is sleeping, I won't wake her up, I just want to see her."

Rory nodded "Follow me" She said as she ascended the stairs. Logan follows. Tori's door was closed. Rory opened it for Logan. "I open her door before I go to bed. I keep it closed until then. She is easily distracted when she is going to sleep, she is like you when she is asleep, she is sound asleep."

They stood there for a while, shoulder to shoulder, just watching her. Logan reached to hold Rory's is what they created together. Both feeling the guilt of the lost 5 years. They both know it was in Tori's best interest, but the guilt of a parent is heavy.

"We created that." Rory said. Logan nodded. He couldn't speak. He was afraid the tears in his eyes would become full of sobbing. Rory could tell his emotions were all over the place. She could see the happy, the guilt, the sad. She knew all of these feelings concerning their daughter. She likes that thought. 'Their' daughter. She had hoped for so long that he would get to spend time with Tori. She wanted him to get to know her, and her to get to know him. After Mitchum passed, she is ashamed to say, she hoped he would divorce Odette, move back here and they could raise her together. That has always been a far fetched dream of hers.

Rory reached to close Tori's bedroom door and pulled him away from it. He followed her downstairs.

"I guess that is my que to leave". He said when they got to the bottom of the stairs.

"Do you have to leave now? We could watch a movie. You should see the set up down stairs" she asked.

He looked at his watch. It was 9:30. Not too late. "What time should I pick the two of you up in the morning?"

Rory sighed. She guesses that means he will not be staying to watch a movie. "9:30, they don't start everything until around 9, 10 is a good time to get there. We will still have good parking."

"I guess I could stay for one movie, but I get to pick." He said. She was grinning.

"Come on, I will show you the media room in the basement." She said, pulling on his hand. They fought over what movie to watch. They finally compromised with an oldie but goodie. 'The Breakfast Club'. They sat on the comfy couch, snuggled up together, watching the movie some, kissing some and staring at the baby monitor on Rory's phone.