II – Poppy

"Uh … What's this?" Logan asked, hesitantly, stopping shortly after coming through the bedroom door, taking an apprehensive look around.

"Duh, what does it look like?" Rolling her eyes, Rory stepped to him to kiss him, careful of the wriggling ball of energy in her arms. All the time continuing to beam like she had ever since he'd come home to find several surprises. First in form of his girlfriend being home, which hadn't been scheduled for this Friday or weekend for that matter, second by the little surprise Rory had brought along apparently. Taking a look around, the little bundle in her arms wasn't the only thing she had brought along as apparently, she'd bought out a store to accommodate his house for the new houseguest, he assumed. Holding 'it' towards him, Rory looked expectantly at him. "What do you think?"

Critically, he eyed the unhappily meowing little black kitten. The little ears, the end of the tale and one prank looked as if it had took a dip into a pot of milk. Tentatively, he took it as he apparently was expected to, changing his hold so it could curl up in his arms, starting to purr. Huh.

Sighing with a mixture of exasperation and amusement, Rory stood beside him to look down at the kitten, resting her head on his shoulder. "Well, that proves she's definitely female."

Even while he frowned, he found himself automatically stroking with his thumb over the tiny head. As he ran it down its flanks and grazed its belly, she doubled the purring, immediately turning her belly up to give him better access.

As he again automatically obliged, Rory chuckled, kissing his cheek. "See? I knew from the moment I saw her that she'll be perfect for you. A match made in heaven. Luckily, I'm not as quickly jealous as a certain mister here." She left his side to further unpack the goods she'd brought along. Litter, cat carrier, several bags with different cat food, a basket and different cushions, toys …

Shaking his head resigned, he moved to his bed to sit down. "What, no cat tree?" he asked, sarcastically.

"Of course. It will be delivered next week. And before you ask, yes, they'll assemble it right away," she answered without even a glance at him, ignoring his sarcasm completely.

"Ace? Care to explain?" he finally asked the obvious question, realizing she apparently wasn't going to come up with an explanation anytime soon. If at all.

Turning towards him, she raised an eyebrow. "What's there to explain? You said you're lonely when I'm on the road. You also always said you want to have pets one day. Problem solved. She'll keep you company and it looks like she also will have no problem to keep you warm at night while I'm away."

He still failed to follow her logic, though he couldn't help but grin with a glance down at the shamelessly purring kitten. Somehow, he thought it would prove rather quite difficult to keep this one out of his bed when Rory was home. Which led him back to his original incredulity. "Don't you think this is something you should have first talked about with me? Yeah, I do want a pet one day, but Ace, I'm not sure now's the right moment. I'm gone all day, you're gone for days between your trips home and then we do want to move within the next year sometime. It's hard enough to not know yet where to, if we now have to check for pet friendliness too, that will make it yet a bit more complicated and limit our options."

She sighed, leaving the packing out for the moment to come over to him. "You're probably right. Still. When I was home in Stars Hollow this past Tuesday for Lane's birthday, Babette came over in quite a state because the local shelter got swamped with fifty cats after a raid at a nearby illegal drug laboratory. More than half of them gravid. So I went to take a look, first only to see if maybe I can write a piece on it that may help get them all placed quickly." She sat down beside him, ruffling the kitten gently behind her ears. "Then this little sweetheart stumbled over my feet after escaping her basket, apparently a specialty of her according to the shelter lady, I picked her up to return to her basket and next thing I know I fill out the adoption form and walk home with the carrier they've loaned me until I got my own. I just … I couldn't not take her, Logan. She belongs to us, I just know it. So here she is. She's got her first set of vaccination already and I made an appointment with the veterinary clinic three blocks over for the second set. She's also chipped and has her passport, only way I could bring her with me on the flight home."

That explained her unannounced trip home, he guessed, taking it all in, still not sure yet how to feel about her spur of the moment action. It really wasn't a good idea at this point in time. Too much hang in limbo right now. All they talked about was what lied ahead for them once her assignment to follow the presidential campaign was over coming November and when he was ready to launch their new news business. They had no idea yet where they were going to live, how much money they'd had to live on exactly and definitely not how much time any of them would have once all that was settled or how much of that predictably little time they could actually spend home.

Not to mention he actually still had yet to propose to her again. He wasn't sure why he hadn't done so yet, it wasn't as if he still had any doubts about what her answer was going to be. Hell, often enough they also talked already about the best time to get married as he stood by his word to not touch a cent of her money before they were married and with his plans about the new business progressing fast, it was unavoidable to also talk about when to actually launch it. Meaning quitting his job here and them getting married before that could happen. Both at Thanksgiving and then again at Christmas and New Year he had almost dropped to his knee again. Why he hadn't after all was beyond him. He wasn't waiting for the other shoe to drop, nor was he testing her. Yeah, at those classic point of times she sure had halfway expected him to finally pop the question again and he still wanted to rather catch her off guard but truly, in the weeks in-between there had been enough opportunities to get it over with, so that was hardly a satisfying explanation for his hesitation.

The best reason he could come up with was that at none of those times had it felt right to do it. And if there was one thing for sure, after the way he had fucked up the first time, he owed it to Rory – and himself – to get it right this time around. Still, him holding back added majorly to the growing mountain of uncertainty looming over their new-found happiness with each other.

No, getting a pet that was dependent on them now wasn't the best idea.

The kitten got up and tapped over to Rory's lap, not to curl up though but to go chase after her fingers. Laughing, Rory reached for a string she'd discarded on the bed, probably from one of the packages, and let it dance before the kitten before she looked back at him. "Please?" she simply begged, but with her heart in her eyes. Clearly, she had already lost it to the little furball.

Looking at the two of them, he knew, despite all the very valuable arguments against adding a pet to the list that needed to be always considered for the next twelve, fifteen years approximately, there was no way he could deny Rory her wish. Or the kitten his home for that matter. Besides, he had always wanted a pet, one of the few things even he hadn't been allowed to have while growing up, his mom claiming to be allergic. Strangely, he had never seen her even sneezing once in the vicinity of dogs or cats.

So – it looked as if he was now a cat-owner. Wait a minute … He raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying you went ahead with this life changing decision without first making at least five pro and con lists?"

She shot him a look from under her eyelashes. "I detect a certain mocking note there in your tone, Mr Huntzberger. But of course I must imagine this as my boyfriend would know better than to commit this cardinal sin."

"He does indeed," he answered with a smirk.

"Good, I'm glad to hear so." Laughing as the kitten tumbled over onto the bed in her haste to catch the string, she shrugged. "In answer to your question, there was no need for any lists, even if this one hadn't more or less planted herself in our lives without any regard to our preferences. It was always going to be a cat."

His eyebrows rose higher. "Ah, was it? Thanks for giving me according notice."

Letting her hand sink down, she met his eyes. "Cats are the only animals I know halfway how to handle as I watched Babette's cats whenever she and her husband were away. Well, there's Paul Anka now but I'm not certain he really is sure he's a dog. Besides, a dog was out of the question from the get-go. I'd have had to walk him whenever you couldn't out of whatever reason. You know how I stand on any physical activity that has no purpose other than getting from A to B or fun maybe as long as it's defined as fun in my book. Or sex."

"Of course, what was I thinking?" He grinned. "Glad that last thing made it onto the exemption list though. But you know, there are other animals than dogs or cats we could have had as pets."

"Well, as you insisted on us getting a pet one day it had to be at least something to touch and cuddle. Anything else just doesn't make sense to me. Knowing me and not so sure about how you fare as a pet holder it also had to be something that can survive on its own just in case. Besides, as said, the only animal I have experience with that hasn't died or fled on me so far are cats. No guarantee with this one here, though I have a definite positive feeling about her chances." Picking up the string again, she flicked it over the bed, sending the kitten chasing after it with a chirping sound. Rory laughed out loud and Logan had to smile too. God, those two were cute together. She glanced at him, her eyes wide and innocent. "But of course, if you've got such a problem with seeing yourself as a cat holder, we can talk about it. You can chose some other pet. Just don't expect my help with it. I put my foot down at anything that has more or less legs than four though, just so you know. And of course, this sweetheart here stays right where she is. She may not purr as shamelessly for me as she does for you, but she'll be just mine only then and part of the package you get if you want me from now on."

Holding up his hands, he shook his head. "No, Ace, no problem here. All I'm saying is next time, maybe you can wait until we at least have talked about it before you go get us a living being that will be with us for years to come?"

She gave a long, suffering sigh. "I guess I can consider as much."

"How generous of you," he replied sarcastically. "On that matter, I've meant what I said: we can't leave her alone all day long. Plus, there are the trips we still both take regularly." An understatement. As predicted by him, while they did manage to see each other pretty much weekly, it was only possible by involving a lot of extra traveling into their busy schedules. And it was unrealistic to assume that would change once they were married and had new jobs.

This time, Rory nodded without hesitation. "True. I guess I didn't think that far yet. Any suggestions?"

"You said there are more kittens at the shelter?" As she nodded again, he didn't have to think long. "In that case we get another one so they can keep each other company. Maybe a tomcat?"

"Of course you vote for a tomcat," Rory replied dryly.

"Hey, if this little lady is for me, it's only fair you get a little lord for yourself. Wouldn't want to get you jealous after all," he pointed out, back to grinning.

"Uh-huh. Except you forget I already have Tonio," she reminded him sweetly. "So I don't really need another man to keep me warm when you're not with me. As it is, I definitely can't take a cat with me on my trips."

'Tonio,' he thought with a grumble, wishing not for the first time her battery-fed 'companion' would finally fall out of the plane or get confiscated somewhere. Not that he hadn't proved to his Ace already several times how very much better the real deal was, still, he looked upon the possession of such a thing itself as an affront to his male proneness. As if he couldn't keep his woman satisfied! Ha!

"But if you want a tomcat, by all means, we can get one. No hanky-panky though for the two of them. They'll go under the knife the moment they're old enough," she interrupted his gloomy thoughts. The look she threw him was firm and determined.

He couldn't help but wince in sympathy, even though he knew she was right there. They definitely didn't need more kittens down the road. Taking another look at the things she'd gotten already to accommodate the kitten, he grimaced. Yep, definitely no more cats than those two or soon, their house would resemble one of those ridiculous cat paradises where the pets ruled the household. His eyes fell onto the litter box, another thought coming to him. "You do know you'll need to be careful with the cats though once we think about having kids in a few years and you get pregnant, do you?"

But she just shrugged. "Only with the litter box, really, not the cats itself. And seeing as I'm the one to have to carry and bear our children and probably also having to change the majority of diapers I think it only fair if you take care of the litter box of our cats. Like for life. Especially seeing as you insisted on having pets, not me."

"May I point out it's been you who chose an animal that needs a litter box in the first place?" he reminded her, not even trying to protest against the first part of her reasoning. There just was no use as ultimately, she'd always win that particular argument, thanks to the quirks of Mother Nature.

Unimpressed, she shot him another look from under her eyelashes, sly as the devil this time. "Actually, that point isn't for certain. While yes, they definitely need to be trained to use it, depending on where we'll live they may be able to be let out. Meaning they can do their business in other places so we won't have to bother with that at all. See, this is the wisdom of your foresightful girlfriend."

He laughed. "I stand corrected. And how very neighborly of you."

"Indeed. You know, I've been thinking about the issue with our absence due to our trips. I'm sure we'll have no problem finding a kid in the neighborhood that would love to look after them and on top of that even earn some extra money for it. I sure liked to help out Babette and Morey with their cats. And I definitely didn't mind the extra bucks." She smiled softly, like often when she spoke about her childhood. Seeking his eyes, her smile deepened. "Would be nice to return the favor."

"Sure," he found himself agreeing on the spot. While it was a good proposition, he really needed to watch this new habit of him. The guys were already laughing their ass off about how he'd mutated to one of those terrible yes-sayers types of boyfriends. Pretty much one pleading look out of those blue killer eyes and he was sold, as today showed more than clearly once again.

Then again, what was he to do? So far, she hadn't asked him for something unreasonable in the time since she showed up at his doorstep to win him back. Saying no out of principle was as stupid as agreeing with something just to please her. This today had been the first time in the three months since they'd gotten back together that she had decided on something big without first talking to him. Looking at the joy on her face as she continued to play with the kitten, he simply couldn't bring himself up to be mad about it. Truth be told, the way she had explained it, he probably wouldn't have left the shelter without a kitten either. He watched how it seemed to chase its own tail as Rory let the string swing around in a circle, again finding himself smiling. Nope, he definitely would have succumbed to that little irresistible charmer as hard as his Ace had. "What's her name?" he wanted to know, tired of thinking of her only as 'the kitten'.

To his surprise though, Rory put down the string to turn to him. "No idea. They didn't give her one yet at the shelter and as she's a gift from me to you, one I admit I kind of sprang on you out of the blue, I thought it only fair you get the honor of giving our new addition to the family a name. I even heroically waive any veto right. So you better choose wisely."

His heart warmed. Before he could answer or react though, the kitten climbed onto Rory's lap, the string in its tiny mouth, letting it drop to meow with apparent indignation and expectation all mixed in together, accompanied with an unmistakable look up at Rory.

Giggling with pure joy, Rory followed the clear order immediately, picking up the string to let it dance once more over the bed, the kitten dashing after it in a black flash. "God, isn't she the smartest, funniest, cutest thing ever?" she laughed, pretty much echoing his thoughts from earlier on.

"Yeah," he said quietly, a calmness coming over him that reached deep down, settling not only into his bones but into his very essence. "You both are."

"We'll have to be so careful to not become one of those couples who dot on their pet in a really creepy, unhealthy way. I always rolled my eyes at them but I start to see where they get from," she said with a sigh, her attention focused on her play with their kitten. "Any ideas for a name yet?"

His heart gave a rush and he smiled, knowingly, as the perfect opportunity presented itself just like that. "How about Poppy?"

She jerked her head around to stare at him, aghast. "Poppy?" she repeated, incredulous.

"Yeah, Poppy," he confirmed with absolute conviction, grinning happily.

"That's got to be the worst name I've ever heard," she commented, still horror-struck. "It's a cute, little kitten for Heaven's sake, not one of those women starring in every pop-up or late night commercial on TV."

His grin deepened to a smirk. "What was that about waving your veto-right?"

She opened her mouth. No word came out. Pouting, she huffed. "Well, that for sure teaches me to ever be that stupid again. Clearly, you can't be trusted with naming anything. You not having any names for your favorite things, not even poor Henry, should have clued me in a long time ago." She knelt beside the bed and ruffled over Poppy's head solemnly. "I am so, so sorry, Sweety." Shaking her head, she glanced at him. "Logan? Just promise me you let me name our children because if Poppy is any indication, you obviously can't be trusted and someone here has to save them from a life of never-ending humiliation, hazing and basically being the butt of every joke."

Oh yeah. This moment was it. The perfect moment. He grinned, happily. "I don't know what you have. Naming her Poppy will always remind us of this moment."

"What moment? The moment where you show you have absolutely no talent in naming anything?" she asked back with a snort.

"I was thinking rather of the moment where I propose to you and we got engaged, but hey, it's your memory. I for one sure know which memory I choose to log into my archive of unforgettable moments," he corrected her with a fond smile, amazed at how calm he felt this time, nothing compared to the nervousness of the last time. Well sure, he was still nervous. He guessed that was how it was supposed to be. Still, this time he was sure that now it was the right moment, the right time. Last time, he had only told himself that it was time. Hopefully, also the right way this time around. He winked at her. "Poppy - short for proposal, you know."

Rory had stilled and slowly looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise and shock. Much like last time. This time though, there was also anticipation and - joy shining brightly in those blue eyes he had fallen for the first time he had gazed into them. Well - second first time. His hand stroking over her hair and cheek, he knelt down beside her and took both of her hands in his. "Rory." He stopped, gulping. Suddenly, that slight nervousness from before boomed into a near panic explosion. As if sensing his welling emotions, Poppy came and bumped her head against him. Chuckling, he looked at her, before recapturing Rory's eyes. "Today, you brought us this kitten here home so we can give her a home, make her part of our family. Family, Rory. I want us to be that family you brought Poppy home to, inside and out. Not just a certainty for you and me, but for the whole world to know. I want to marry you. To be your husband. To be the father of not just this little kitten here, but of your children and grandfather of your grandchildren."

Tears started to glisten at the rim of her eyes, but she was slowly starting to smile, loosening up the tight knot his heart had been in for the last few minutes. He hadn't known this morning that today he would ask her the biggest question he was ever going to ask someone again. Hell, he hadn't known it even an hour before. But ever since she had put Poppy into his arms and told him that she was theirs now, he had known it. Known that now, at last, she was ready for the question.

He stroked over her cheek before he raised her hands and pressed a kiss onto the still barren ring finger. Not for long though anymore - he hoped. Looking back up at her, he let her see everything of him, every emotion, the all-consuming love for her, his fears and doubts - everything, naked, only for her to ever see. "I love you, Rory. I love how you think and I love that amazing brain you have, as well as I love your ambitions and dreams. I love your addiction to coffee, I love the passion with which you eat and drink. I love how you can turn an everyday thing into a special moment. I love how you always like the little things and little gifts more than you will ever like big, expensive things. I love how much you love your family and friends, how you're always there for them and how they always come first for you and God, I love how you make love to me."

A single tear rolled over her cheek, but she laughed softly, biting her lips.

"And I love how you bite your lips when you're really nervous or thinking about something really important, just like you do now." He smiled, using her habit he knew only too well for his goal. "I simply love you, Rory. All of you, the great things as much as your faults. I want to be a part of you and your life, I want to always be there for you for the rest of our lives and I want to show you just how much I love you, every day, for eternity." He took a deep breath, gazing into her eyes, letting the deep connection of their souls he always felt then calm him. Center him. "I want you to be my Emily, Rory," he said quietly, as serious as he had ever been in his life. Her eyes widened some more, her breath hitching. God, he hoped that was the good sign he thought it was.

Letting go of one of her hands, he reached into his pocket, pulling out the small black velvet bag he always carried there, ever since they've made the deal of their lives. He opened it, fingered out the ring with trembling fingers and held it out to her, before he recaptured her hand while holding the ring between his thumb and forefinger.

Rory stared at the ring. "This is another ring."

He nodded. "I wouldn't give you the same ring twice. The other ring, it was all wrong. I had to admit that eventually. Besides, it's long gone. I couldn't stand the constant reminder of what I've lost, so I got rid of it only days after you said no. Still, the first time I saw this one, all I could think was how perfect it would fit you, desperately wanting to see this very ring on your finger with a need so overwhelming, I went in and bought it before I knew what I was doing. Ace, that was back in August, when we were still broken and I had every reason to believe there never again would be a second chance for me to ask for your hand in marriage again. Actually, I already had lost hope, drowning in a sea of bitterness, anger and pain. Yet, I could not not get this ring. I needed to have it." He stopped, looking at the ring. It was a platinum ring with a small but very clear and shining diamond. On each side, three stones led away from it, always getting a bit smaller. It looked a lot simpler than the last one, but way classier and elegant. "Maybe even back then I knew deep in my soul that we couldn't be over yet. You coming to me, or maybe even me one day overcoming my hurt pride and coming back to you, it knew, somehow, our souls would whip us back to where we belong if necessary."

"Together," she whispered, nodding once, almost reverberant, her eyes not leaving the ring. "Oh Logan, this ring is gorgeous."

"Good. Rory?" At last she tore her eyes away from the ring to look back at him. "You were right. Last time, I fucked it up. While I did have the right reasons, I did it wrong, from beginning to end. Something, I really only understand now. Now, that I'm hopefully doing it right. It sure feels right," he admitted, squeezing her hands. "So here I kneel and I ask you if you want to make me part of that amazing life you have. Do you want to take me as your friend, as your partner, as your lover and soulmate - as your husband? Will you marry me, Lorelai Leigh Gilmore?"

There were more tears now rolling over her cheeks, but she laughed. "Now, that is an absolutely perfect proposal. And yes. Yes, Logan. Of course. I never wanted anyone else but you. I love you. So much. Yes!"

God, she'd said yes! Finally! His heart soaring, he went to seal this most important promise with a deep but tender kiss. Hearing from her lips the seemingly forever awaited and longed for answer at last left him unspeakably happy and downright giddy. "Thank you for saying yes this time," he whispered, once he let go of her lips, leaning his forehead against hers, so relieved and overjoyed that this time, she had accepted him and all he'd offered.

"Thank you for giving me no reason at all to think twice before saying yes this time. Doing it so dreamily perfect I could never not say yes to you," she whispered back, laughing and crying at the same time. Most of all though, she radiated with a happiness that kept his own heart and soul warm and shiny.

"My pleasure and honor." His heart still beating fast, he looked down at their joined hands and the ring stuck between his fingers. Leaning back a bit, he released her hands so he could, with a questioning glance at her she answered with an eager nod, slowly slide his ring onto her ring finger. Seeing it coming to a rest where it was always supposed to belong, his heart and soul calmed with a rush of exhilaration. Breathing out, he watched how his fiancée – Good Lord, his fiancée! – admired her new ring, her eyes sparkling more than the diamonds she carried now did.

Maybe sensing his eyes, she lifted her eyes to gaze back into his. "I know I already told you all there is to be said about how I feel for you when I came here, ready to fight for you 'til my last breath if necessary. Or some other time in the amazing months since then. Still …" Her voice, thick with emotion to begin with, died on her. Swallowing, she started anew. "I want you to know how much I love you, Logan. The guy always gets to hold these great speeches when he proposes, leaving us girls with nothing to say but yes."

"As someone who heard a no before, believe me, one yes is all that it needs," he reassured her, taking her hands to entwine his fingers with hers.

"Maybe for you. But I need to say more. Even though I'm so damn happy right now, I can hardly speak," she said with a nervous laugh, squeezing his hands, before she turned serious. "You are one wonderful man, Logan. So smart, so thoughtful, so tender when I need you to be tender just as you are so strong when I need you to be strong for me. You are always full of life, infecting me with that joy to live, taking me along on rides, some of them so wild I would probably never have dared them on my own. Your unconditional love for me is so far the greatest gift life had to offer me. I know I hurt you when I said no last time you asked me this question. You know why I did it by now, why I had no choice than to beg you to take a step back and rethink it. It never was because I don't love you. Or don't want you."

"I know," he confirmed quietly, his throat not working too great right now either. He swallowed, shaking his head. "Rory, you don't have to …"

"Yeah, I do," she contradicted, firmly. "Your love for me, it's something I cherish, you know? I'll always do, never taking it for granted. If I ever risk doing it anyway, just remind me of Poppy, okay? I do tend to forget the most important things in my life when I get really focused on something. I'm working on it, I have been for a while and I think so far you never had to suffer too much neglect, but with hopefully many more decades in front of us, who knows, so I mean it, don't let me forget ever who's the most important person in my life. You. Not Mom, not anymore, it's you. As it has been for a while, actually. I know you have your doubts there, and Mom has a hard time getting used to it, but it sure as hell is nothing but the truth and I want you to know it."

She was spot on, as so often reading him so easily, knowing him better than anyone else, sometimes even he himself. His throat definitely not working with him anymore, he just nodded, once, to let her know how much her words meant to him. Every single one.

"Please also know that I respect you very much. Your integrity and honesty, but also your intelligence and your great ambitions. Your confidence, your drive, your hunger. Your joy of life. It excited me from the beginning, intrigued me and boy, with all that going for you you sure keep me on my toes, constantly, which is good, because it helps me reach for higher goals myself, dig deeper to get out more of life for myself as well." She smiled at that, but only for a moment before she leaned towards him, her lips only a breath away from his while she kept her gaze locked with his. "Perhaps most of all though I love and respect your constant willingness and courage to rethink your actions, your behavior, your decisions and beliefs even sometimes when challenged. That takes a truly great man and I'm very lucky to have the honor to become your wife, Logan Elias Huntzberger, and accompany you through the rest of your life, a life I'm sure will be extraordinary and filled with many surprises and great successes, but most of all, with love. So much love."

Logan had simply no words. What words on Earth could be adequate to express what he was feeling right now, hearing all these wonderful words Rory just gifted him with? None. So he did the only thing he could do: gather the love of his life into his arms to share with her the most intense and loving kiss of his life, letting his soul and heart say anything that needed to be said to hers.

They got interrupted by Poppy bumping her head against theirs, meowing pathetically. Both laughing and in Rory's case still crying, they separated to look at their kitten who looked exasperated at them. Reaching out, Rory cradled her into her arms, bringing her to an instant purr by fondling her. "Have you heard, Poppy? Your female human is going to marry your male human. In no time, you have a real family to call yours."

Raising an eyebrow, Logan looked at his two girls, unsure if he was enchanted by Poppy's interruption or annoyed. "So … Still any complaints against Poppy?"

Shooting him a look that was both warm and annoyed, she sighed. "For the record, Poppy is still a terrible name. But yeah, looks like our poor, innocent kitten here will have to live with carrying a name to homage the most amazing moment of our lives." Looking down at Poppy, she again shook her head. "I am truly sorry. And please always remember, he named you, not me."

"Making me the bad guy already, huh?" he said dryly but just couldn't stop grinning like a honey bee. "You better keep this up with Poppy only here. I want to spoil our future children as often as you do."

The smile she shot him was radiating with the same happiness he felt. "We'll see. Luckily, for the near future, we'll only have to worry about Poppy and her companion. Just to be on the safe side, I'll name him."

He shrugged. Taking Poppy from her, he got up. "The sooner the better. We can go pick one out at the shelter when we fly over to go tell our folks about our engagement." He stopped, frowning, going through his calendar in his mind and through what he remembered of hers. "Uh, something we shouldn't wait with for too long I think. How about next weekend? That gives us time to find a sitter for Poppy and maybe even hash out the major points for the wedding."

She bit her lip, thinking. "Not sure if I can hold this back from Mom for an entire week, Logan."

Right. "Ace, that's entirely up to you. I thought it would be nicer to do it in person, but if you want to call her to spill the news, fine with me. Later though, please." Bending, he picked up one of the big cushions Rory had bought for Poppy, walked into the living room and set it on the sofa, before he went back to go get the litter box, pushing it just outside the bedroom for now. Rory had already filled it, thank God.

Rory watched him puzzled. "What are you doing?"

Going back to the sofa, he put Poppy down onto the cushion. Not that he had much hope she would actually stay there and leave his sofa cushions alone. Sure enough, already she jumped out to sniff out the rest of the sofa. With an inner sigh, he left her to go back to his Ace. Firmly closing the door behind him. "Just making sure she doesn't need a cat whisperer after one day with us already." With a grin that was as much hungry as it was wolf, he advanced on her. "Can't have her witnessing how her male human is going to ravish his female human to celebrate their newly engaged status. It would completely overload her young, innocent mind."

Her eyes darkening, she watched him stalk towards her. "Oh. Good thinking. Look at how mindful you already are."

"That I am." Reaching her, he bend down to lift her up in his arms. "Well, that and I really don't care for her interrupting us again until I'm finished with you, soon-to-be Mrs Huntzberger," he admitted with a low growl as he draped her over his bed, moving to cover her.

"As said: Good thinking, Soon-to-be Mr Huntzberger-Gilmore." Grabbing the front of his dress shirt, she pulled him down on her, claiming his lips in a passionate kiss that had him tear her clothes away, his body and soul focused on one single mission: get home.

"Engaged for not even twenty-four hours and already, you abandon me in bed to go get some work done?"

Logan looked up from his notebook. "Only to protect your precious sleep, Honey," he drawled with a grin. "But it's good you're up. Come here, Ace, I'm dying to show you this," he said, motioning for her to come join him on the sofa.

Raising an eyebrow, she followed his beckoning, the eyebrow climbing higher when she saw Poppy curled up in his lap with her belly up and the nose hidden behind two pawns. "Not only neglecting me for work but for another woman on top of that as I see. Maybe I should rethink my answer if that's a taste of the next forty years or so."

"Uh-uh, too late for that, Babe. Once you said yes you sealed your fate." He took her hand and drew her to sit beside him, turning the notebook so she had a perfect view of its screen. "What do you think?"

Leaning against him, she rested one hand on his knee while the other sneaked to his lap to caress over Poppy's belly. Taking in the four letters starring on the screen, she frowned slightly. "About what exactly?"

"I think I finally figured out what to call our news business," he explained, barely able to contain his enthusiasm. While he had progressed quickly through outlining the concept and business plan for their news portal and its launch, the one thing that had eluded him was a name that was catchy for the readers at the same time as it represented both him and Rory. Suddenly though, laying with his Ace, his fiancée, sleeping in his arms after the most amazing love making of his life, a name had popped up in his mind. From there it had spiraled until he finally just had to get up and sketch it out further.

Her frown deepening, she reached out to trace the letters, beginning with the last two. "GH. Gilmore-Huntzberger. That's good. With the added bonus that it probably will be another thorn in your dad's ass if there is another news magazine out there associated with the name Huntzberger over which he has no control whatsoever."

Satisfied, he grinned. As innocent as his Ace was in some things, as sly was she in others, one of the first things he had fallen in love with. Impatiently, he waited for her to work through the first two letters.

Again, it took her no time at all, as she already moved through to the second letter. "R for Rory, okay, even if it does sound a bit silly. Not that I believe you'll actually spell it out in any legal document." She moved to the first letter. "And I presume the A stands for Ace." Shaking her head, she looked at him. "No L?"

He shrugged. "Didn't really fit. The best I could come up with is three L which we could have turned into Thrill, but I never was too happy with that one. This though, this is it. Don't you think it's perfect?"

"Now, you know trying to influence me with your wording has no effect on this reporter here," she lectured him, even shaking a finger towards him.

"Ace!" he whined.

She sighed, looking back at the name he proposed. "I see where you are coming from, Logan, I do. It sure is catchy. But if you let me be the devil's advocate: I don't like how you build this name almost solely around me, barely letting it represent you as well when it's much more your business than it ever will be mine."

"No, Rory. I already told you I won't do it unless it's equally owned. But if your argument were valid, then as it would be more mine than yours, I certainly would have the right to decide how much of me I want to be reflected in the name. Aside of that, Ace really represents both of us. Apart of it being my nickname for you – that I gave you, not to forget – we are both ace reporters after all and I sure hope we manage to employ only ace reporters. Plus, this business will be hopefully your ace in hand if you ever have to negotiate about the conditions of your employment, so, if necessary, you can quit anytime in order to come work for us," he pointed out. "Any other objects?"

With an eyeroll, she stopped petting Poppy to slip her arm around him. "Just that naming our portal ARGH will be quite a controversy. Not that I need to tell you this. It's probably exactly what you're aiming for."

She sure knew him inside out. Happily, he nodded. "True. It expresses exactly what I want our news business to aim for: to go after all the topics out there that irk us, that unnerve us, time and time again. Sure, we will have our fluff pieces as well, though I hope even them to have a good portion of biting sarcasm. But the main focus shall be on the right and wrongs of the world, be it political, environmental, financially, religiously or whatever. Portraying every side, raising up their very own argh-arguments about the others."

"Before giving the readers the platform to leave their own argh-thoughts behind. We could even give them the opportunity to propose argh-topics for us to cover," she said thoughtfully. "We'll have to be careful not to let the platform become a war field for shit-storms and hate postings though. Controversy yes, bashing no. Plus, if we want to stay fairly neutral, we'll have to be very careful with our wording."

"You have to be careful," he corrected her with a smirk. It was true enough though. No one reading her articles could have any doubts which party she supported, no matter how much she tried to stay neutral. "But I know what you mean. As soon as we can afford it, we'll have to get some talented reporters from other backgrounds and belief bases on staff. First, we do in fact need some good IT-guys to keep it running and I thought maybe we can hire some journalism majors from college to screen the comments. I figure they'll be happy to get a job in the news business while we should be easily able to afford as much from the get go." While he certainly liked the romance around him single-handedly doing everything alone until they earned enough money to actually make some winnings, he had known from the beginning that there was no way he could do all on his own. No, he needed to be able to concentrate on the creative side of the business, leaving him as much time to write as possible. Because at first they certainly couldn't afford any other reporters on staff. Maybe some freelance work once ARGH had gotten its name out there and got recognized as a serious up-coming business but for the beginning, it would be up to him to get together enough articles every day. Well, perhaps Ace could provide some pieces as well, depending on whom she worked for, though he doubted she'd have much wriggle room there, not unless she decided to write under another name. Which wasn't her style at all.

"Sounds good. I sure would have gladly taken such a job." She chuckled. "So. Looks like we name our business after an expletive."

"Four-letter word, technically. And come on, it hardly is a curse. Besides, we both know what the letters really stand for and that is all that's important, really." He looked back to his screen, already envisioning possible logos and layouts for the portal. He grinned confidently. "Plus: the young will love it just because of that I think and they are the focus group I want to get. As said, ARGH is perfect for us."

She chuckled, patting his knee. "Yeah, yeah, I got it. Now get that ego of yours back under control, Huntzberger." Closing his notebook, she turned towards him. "Do I see this correctly: all we need is a date for the wedding now so you know when approximately you can launch it?"

"More or less. There still is a lot to design and decide on, but the major parts stand now, yeah. All we need is to get the legal paperwork done and free the money, but yeah, I think we're ready to move to the next phase and actually start preparing the launch." It sounded so easy, but God, it was a ton of work heading towards them. And all that aside of having to prepare the big wedding Rory wanted as well. No, he definitely didn't see much free time in their foreseeable future.

"Logan?"

"Hmm?" he replied, still going through mental lists to do, one for ARGH, one for the wedding. Foremost, they definitely needed to hash out the date. Without the date, there wasn't much concrete planning he could get done with otherwise.

"When we go tell our folks about our engagement – will you tell your dad about ARGH?"

His mind coming to a screeching halt, he looked at her, incredulous. "No."

But Rory took his hand in both of hers. "Don't you think it may be better if he hears it from you straight forward than through anyone else nebulously? You know better how it works, Logan. If we move from the plans on your hard drive to actually building it up now, drawing up legal papers, registering it and all this, it won't be long until he hears about it."

"So what? Ace, the sooner he knows, the faster he'll cook up something to stop ARGH from ever launching. We don't need this." He squeezed her hand reassuringly, then moved Poppy from his lap to hers before getting up, stretching. "I'll be careful. So far, no one but you, me, your parents and our closest friends know about our plans. I haven't even told Honor yet. She's a babble mouth under any circumstances but now that she's pregnant it's gotten even worse. I'll keep it under wrap for as long as possible. He showed me enough tricks about how to stay quiet about something. I think we'll be able to keep this on the downside until shortly before the launch."

"If you think so …" she sighed, sounding anything else but convinced. Watching him as he gathered up his notebook and notes to bring it back to his office, she was nagging at her lower lip as he came back to her. "Logan?" After he only shot her a quick look, she continued, hesitating. "You do plan to tell your parents about our engagement though, right? When you proposed to go tell our folks next weekend, you haven't just talked about Honor and Finn and Colin for your side, have you?" Apparently, he hesitated a bit too long to answer as Rory was already beginning to shake her head. "Logan …"

"What?" he asked, shrugging. "Ace, you know how they are. You saw how it was when Honor told them about her engagement. You also know how they stand on you and me together. I'm not saying I'm not going. I actually haven't decided yet. Hell, I don't even know if they'll be home next weekend. But really, it's not important."

"Not important? Logan, they are your parents! You, their only son, is going to marry." Her eyes drilled themselves into his, pleading. "You have to tell them. If they act like the asses they are, fine, but at least you tried and they can't blame you – or me - for not keeping them in the loop about us." She frowned. "They do at least know we're back together, right?"

"I'm sure Honor told them. Or Richard or Emily," he reassured her, really not caring that much about this. "They haven't mentioned you when we met up for Christmas though and neither have I. In and out, as quick as possible, that was the plan."

The whole thing had been as unpleasant as it could have been, the only light moment when Honor had told them all about her being pregnant. Which he had known already, still, the news about another possible heir being born into the family had even cheered up his grumpy grandfather. Who had refused to speak one word to him, just like he had done so ever since Logan had left the group. His mother had been her usual tipsy and smoking self and his father … Amazingly, he had been the only one beside his sister and Josh to actually talk to him, inquiring about his life on the West Coast. Not that Logan was fooled, easily recognizing this as the interrogation it really was. Probably his father hoping to find something with which he could convince him to come back.

Fat chance there. He glanced at his fiancée, who looked anything else but pleased right now. No, he wasn't going back, not ever. The man he would revert to if he ever went back to the group wasn't worthy of her. Or would ever be a good father to the children they wanted to have. At least he didn't think so.

"That's it. We're going to tell them. Together."

Brought out of his thoughts abruptly, he frowned at her. "Absolutely not."

"Logan …"

"No. I can go tell them if you insist, but it's out of the question that you come along," he told her with a glare. No way was he risking his family throwing more unforgivable things straight at her face or treating her like shit.

Rory moved Poppy from her lap to the cushion for her before standing up to come over to him. "That's not how it's going to work anymore, Hon. Not now that we're going to marry. You can't shield me from them anymore."

He looked down at her. "Watch me."

Her eyes narrowed. "Okay, let me rephrase: I'm not letting you shield me anymore. They are going to be my in-laws. Even more important, they are going to be the grandparents and one great-grandfather of our children."

He shrugged. "So what? You think I want to expose them to what Honor and I had to go through growing up? No. I'm going to protect you and our children from them and we'll keep the exposure to the necessary minimum."

"No, we are not. At least not as long as I have a say in this. And seeing as it concerns me for now and the children I'm going to bear us, I most definitely shall have a say." Seeing him drawing in a breath to protest, Rory was quick to continue. "Because I know how it is to be kept away from your grandparents. In fact, I've been that kid. Still am, actually, at least where the Haydens are concerned. It's not fun, Logan. And it hurts. It took my father's parents sixteen years to bother to meet me and when it finally happened, not only couldn't they care less if I was there or not, they just ignored me. My mom sent me out of the room but I had no problems hearing my grandfather blame Mom for refusing to abort me or at least give me up for adoption. It's the only memory I have of him for the next time I connected with them again was for his funeral years later. At which my grandmother stared at me as if I was the harbinger of death and pestilence."

He remembered. It had been one of the first times he'd seen her hurt badly, leaving him feeling completely helpless and having no clue how to make everything better. Or, failing to do that, then at least find some way to help lessen her pain.

"Even with Grandma and Grandpa: Before Grandma blackmailed Mom into Friday night dinners, I barely knew them, only seeing them maybe two, three times per year. While I don't approve of her methods, I'm actually glad she did it, because it was probably the only way for me to really get to know them, spend time with them. We have our differences, but Logan, as I know now how great and fulfilling it can be to have a close relationship with your grandparents, I'm even more adamant now to never rob my children of the same opportunity." She stepped into his arms, he automatically closing them around her. "Our children deserve the chance to get to know all members of their family. If your parents botch it up, believe me, I'll be the first to rain hell on them, but whatever happens between them and you and me – it needs to stay between us, it not affecting any children we'll eventually have one day. But to get there, it starts now, Logan. Not only once they're born. With me coming with you as their future daughter in law when you tell them. With giving them a chance to be involved in our life as a couple." Her hands ran up his chest to lock behind his neck. "Please, Logan?"

He sighed, knowing he was defeated. No man loving her could deny her such a heartfelt plea. "For the record, I still think this is a bad idea." He tightened his hold on her. "I don't want them to hurt you. Again."

"I'm a big girl, Logan. I can take whatever they throw at me. Besides, it's not as if we go in blind like last time. I know what to expect now. It doesn't matter though." She kissed him. "What matters is that we're a team now. Where you go, I go. Especially when it's you going into the lion's den. Remember, this whole engagement and marriage things primarily means I'm part of your family now. In fact, I'll be your immediate family, the one everyone else has to go through to get at you. I'm here for you, always, in good times as much as the bad times. So like you will come with me to DAR events and other boring stuff my grandparents expect us to attend I'll be there at your side when your family calls you to duty – or to come down on you."

While his heart nearly burst with the love he felt for this woman, his eyes stayed serious. He stroked over her cheek. "I am a very lucky man indeed. But, Ace, as much as this means to me, I really think, in this case it's best I first talk with them alone. We can see that we meet them together, as a couple engaged to marry, shortly afterwards if you like, maybe for dinner or lunch the other day. But I have no idea what I'm walking into in general and as the main reason for that is my already estranged relationship with my family, I don't see a reason to subject you to the fall-out of all that. Besides," he hurried to add as he could already see the protest on her lips, "I think it's time after all for me and Dad and maybe even with Mom and Grandpa too to have a long overdue conversation. To clear the air so to speak. I feel this is something I do have to do on my own."

She hesitated for a long moment, but eventually, much to his relief, she sighed. "All right. I trust you on this. But I do want you to arrange for a lunch or dinner together while we're home. They need to get used to me. And I to them. So I think that could be a good start."

He nodded. "That I can do. But if it's okay for you I'd like us to first meet with Honor and Josh separately. They deserve to know before the old folks." To then help stand on their side and provide backup when they all met up, he thought with an inner sigh.

"Of course. Just like we'll tell my parents and Luke before we go to my grandparents," she nodded. Tightening her hold behind his neck she chuckled. "What do you think? Will Grandpa have another serious word with you like he did when we pranked you back? Or have another talk with you like after my grandparents found out we were having sex?"

He groaned. Definitely not his fondest memories. "Probably, if not this weekend then for sure sometime before the wedding." Of that he had no doubt. Actually, he was convinced that Richard had already meant every word he had said to him regarding Rory during that prank. But Rory had always laughed off his worries in that regard. He gave her a look like he always did when they happened to speak about those times. "And there's nothing to laugh about there, Ace. Richard seems like a jovial enough man, but that man can be scary, I tell you."

"Sure," she replied, not taking it serious at all.

Shaking his head, he decided it was no use to convince her otherwise. More importantly, that there was a much better use of the rest of the night. He pressed her close, proceeding to kiss her, deeply, demanding. When she answered with no less passion, all thoughts about their folks and even ARGH vanished, leaving only her and his need for her. With words that had no need to be spoken out loud he swept her up into his arms, carrying her back to their bedroom, kicking the door close behind him with his foot.

What he was about to do with his Ace was still nothing for Poppy or anyone but the two of them to witness.

Author's Note: I still don't know if I'll continue this or not further. I do have some ideas, but I guess we'll just see. Especially once the Revival aired this Friday. And yes, it's the main reason why I post this one now, because I want to get it out before the revival. I also have another chapter for Together While Apart almost ready that I hope to be able to post before Friday.

As always, thank you so very much for the wonderful reviews for part I – and my other stories. I truly appreciate all of them!

I do hope you like this one as well. And Poppy. Regarding her: I do know that this is absolutely not the way one should come to have a pet. You should have pro/con lists, and talks, thorough thoughts and due preparations before taking a pet home. But we all know it happens often enough otherwise. I for sure didn't get all of my cats (duh, of course I share my home with cats …) the responsible way. In that case you just have to show your responsibility afterwards … And I do hope I showed that enough with those two and their new family addition.

All right, last note, as always, my reminder that this is not beta-ed and I'm not a native English speaker, so bear that in mind when you see things that make you cringe. I do hope there aren't too many though.

Enjoy – and let's hope for a great Revival!