A/N: Once again thank you very much for all the reviews. Still betaed by me so beware. And...that's all I think.
Ready or not, here it comes!
As I wait for Colin at Latzman's, my favorite deli in the whole world, I think of the best way to approach the topic at hand without him realizng what I'm doing. 'C'mon Rory, you're a journalist, you do this for a living', I say to myself. Besides... it's Colin, how many times have I tricked him into doing exactly what I wanted? I look up and I see him making his way towards me, he hasn't changed much since college, but he's changed nonetheless. As all of us he's more adult and humbler than he used to be. The old Colin would have never agree to lunch at Latzman's, but now it's one of his favorites too. I have to say I like this Colin much better.
"Miss Gilmore, I have to say, you're looking as breathtaking as ever."
"You don't look so bad yourself, Mr. McRae." I say as I stand up to hug him. He kisses my cheek. "Hi Colin. How are you?"
"Same old, same old." He says as we sit down. " Did you order already?"
I nod. "Two bagels and lox, two coffees?" He nods appreciatively and I continue. "How's the wife?"
"Ann's fine." He says half-heartedly.
"You don't sound so sure."
"Well considering that this morning she told me I was never touching her again, I would say I have a right to."
"Morning sickness will do that to you." I laugh. "Just wait 'til the second trimester arrives and she'll be singing another tune. However, I must warn you, when labor comes she won't be very fond of you."
"Yeah, Logan said the same thing."
"Trust him, he knows."
Actually, Colin and Ann met through Logan and me four years ago. I met Ann while waiting at Dr. Shapiro's office. Coincidentally she was interning with a doctor at the same office and soon we became friends. The two lovebirds saw each other for the first time at the girls' first birthday party and according to them sparks flew. They got married two years ago and now they are expecting their first child.
The waitress brings our order and we start eating. I see his pleasured expression and I know it's the right moment to get the information.
"So Colin, I wanted to ask you something."
"Ask away."
"Well, I was talking to the girls last night and they mentioned-" before I can go own he cuts me off.
"She's not his girlfriend." I play the ignorance card.
"Huh?"
"Kathy, Logan's not dating her. You thought I didn't know the reason behind this impromptu lunch?" Busted.
"But how, when? I mean, how did you…" Yes ladies and gentlemen, I'm stuttering.
"Sunday night Poker." He says matter-of-factly "Logan told us Kathy went to his house while the girls were there."
Of course. How could I possibly forget about Sunday night Poker? Every Sunday night Logan, Colin, Finn and some other guys from college meet up and play poker while downing expensive scotch. Aww, don't you love male bonding? Anyways women are not allowed at the games. However, from what Ann and I have gathered, mainly by eavesdropping, they talk like teenage girls after prom night. I don't know what it is about losing money that makes their tongues loose too.
Since I've been busted, I believe is time to use a different approach. "So are you going to tell me or what?"
He chuckles. " Look all I know is they are friends. He's been helping her with the student newspaper at the school she works in." I try to say something but he cuts me off. "Is she pretty? Yes. Is she nice? Yes. Does he like her? I don't know. Why are you so interested anyway?"
"I'm not," I say defensively. "I just like to know what kind of people are near my kids. That's all."
"Of course it is." I glare at him and he adds, " So how's work?"
Back at The Hartford Mail I find myself struggling with the layout for tomorrow's paper. I've been working at The Mail for five years now. A year after I was hired as a reporter the Huntzberger Group bought the paper and that's how I winded up working for my ex. To be honest the paper does pretty well so there's no need for much intervention from the big bosses. A year ago our senior editor retired and I was promoted to fill his role. That's why right now I'm staring at my board trying to come with a way to fill all the blank spaces I still have.
"You know, if you move the fire article to the left you can fit another article over there and thus no blanks." I hear someone say behind me. I don't need to see who it is; I can hear his smirk in his voice.
"Hi Logan." I say turning around.
"Hey. Can I?" He says motioning to the board. He walks towards me, looks at the board and starts moving things around. "There it is. Done." And the smug smirk appears.
"You know, the purpose of paying someone to do a job is to have them actually doing the job."
He shrugs. "You were about to make a whole with your eyes in that board, I just wanted to save the paper some money."
I glare at him. "Sit down."
He sits in the chair across my desk and looks at me. "What?" I bark.
"Just waiting for permission to talk." Again with the shrugging.
"Talk."
"You really know how to make a guy do what you want." Bad joke Logan. He sees my scowl and continues. "Okay, okay I'm sorry. I'll talk now. I talked to Honor the other day. She and Josh just bought a big house in the country and since Mom and Dad are away this year, Honor wants to do a big Christmas celebration there. She asked me to talk to you to see if you and the girls would go. She wants us, Colin and Ann to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day over there. Now, I know you always go to Stars Hollow and I understand if you don't want to go. But it would make her really happy if you and the girls were there."
"Why didn't you tell me all this on the phone?" are the first words that come to my mouth.
"I figured begging was more effective in person." He chuckles. "So?"
"I guess it's only fair that the girls spend Christmas with your family this year. After all they've been going to Stars Hollow for the past few years." Oh god Mom will be so pissed. But as I said, it's only fair. Logan has been accommodating the needs of my family for a very long time and it's time I accommodate his.
"What about you?" Oh, that's the million-dollar question.
"Tell Honor I'll think about it and I'll call her tonight." He nods. "Was that all?"
" Yeah, I'll leave you to your work." He stands up and walks to the door.
"Logan?"
"Do you think you could walk between the desks on your way out?" He gives me a puzzled expression. "I just love to watch them squirm."
"My lady, your wish is my command."
I watch as he walks through the sea of desks. Every two or three desks he pokes his head and tries to see what the reporter is doing. Then he lifts his head, gives me a smile and I try not to melt. Be careful with what you wish for, Rory.
Hours later I'm still thinking about what Logan told me and I still don't know what to do. I've never been very good at making decisions, that's why I used to have the pro-con lists. However, with time I've come to realize that the most logical option is not always the best option. So what's going to be? Honor or Mom? More accurately, Logan or Mom?
Back when I discovered I was pregnant and everybody was still adjusting to the news, Honor, who was also pregnant at the time (two months ahead of me), showed up at my place with a box of pastries and tons of books on pregnancy and parenting. That's how our weekly breakfasts were born. During those meetings we would bond first over pregnancy, then over motherhood and later when Ann joined us, over men. I have to say we haven't been in touch a lot lately, our weekly breakfast have been displaced by kids and work, but we still know about each other, through Logan, Colin and Ann.
I ponder on my dilemma for a while, I can't either take Honor or Mom's offer without disappointing the other one. C'mon Rory what do you really want to do? It's then that I'm finally able to make a decision. I pick up the phone figuring I might as well tell her myself.
"Hello" I hear her say.
"Hey Honor, it's Rory how are you?" Why am I so nervous?
"Oh my god, Rory is so good to hear you. I'm fine, how are you?"
"I'm good, I'm good. How are the boys?"
"They're fine. Jason and Daniel are coming out of the flu. Oh by the way, I'm so sorry we couldn't make it to the girls' birthday party last week. But-"
"Honor," I cut her off, "you had two sick kids at home plus a three-month-old baby, I understand you had your hands full."
"Don't even tell me about it. Motherhood is hard."
"Amen sister." I laugh. "So there's a reason why I called. I talked to Logan today, and he told me about Christmas."
"Listen Rory, I know you usually go to your mom's so if you can't come that's okay."
"Well, I was thinking. Since I'm already sending you three Huntzbergers I thought I should add a Gilmore and send you the complete package."
"That's great Rory, thank you so much, you don't know how much it means to me. We're going to have so much fun. I'm so going to kick mom's ass at Christmas Party planning."
I laugh. I've missed talking to her. "Hey Honor" I say more seriously. "Would you like to go to breakfast sometime this week?"
"I'd love too. Wednesday same place same time?"
"Wednesday is fine. I'll call Ann."
"Great. Oh Crap Thomas is crying now. I'll see you Wednesday. Bye."
"Bye."
Not a minute after I hang up, the phone rings. I check the caller ID. It's Ann.
"I was just talking about you."
"To whom?"
"Honor. Are you free Wednesday morning?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Breakfasts are back."
" Goody. Did she tell you about Christmas?"
"Yup."
"And?"
"I'll be there."
"Great." A beat. "So anyway I know you got busted today."
"I know you spent your morning throwing up but I'm not alerting the media."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"I already have a shrink, Ann."
"Not a very good from what I see."
"You know, sometimes I really hate you."
"I know." Then she gets more serious. "Rory?"
"What?"
"How are you going to tell Lorelai about Christmas?"